Prevalence of congenital colour vision deficiency among Black school children in Durban, South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital colour vision deficiency (CCVD) is an x-linked chromosome disorder that results from abnormalities in one or all three-cone type's photoreceptors. Early assessment and diagnosis of CCVD is necessary to minimise the disability associated with the condition. Multistage sampling was used to determine the prevalence of CCVD among Black South African school children in Durban, South Africa. The examination included visual acuity measurements, ocular motility evaluation, retinoscopy, auto-refraction, and examination of the anterior segment, media and fundus. Colour vision testing was performed using Colour Vision Testing Made Easy colour plates (Home Vision Care, Gulf Breeze, FL).

RESULTS: 1305 (704 boys and 601 girls) Black school children participated in the study. The overall prevalence of colour vision deficiency was 29 (2.2%), which was higher in boys (25, 4.2%) than girls (4, 0.6%), with prevalence of protanopia and deuteranopia found to be 10 (0.7%) and 19 (1.5%), respectively. The prevalence of protanopia and deuteranopia among males was nine (1.5%) and 16 (2.7%) respectively, which was significantly higher than the 1 (0.1%) protanopia and 3 (0.4%) deuteranopia in females (p < 0.05). Policies and guidelines for comprehensive school eye health programmes which screen children for CCVD are required in South Africa.