[Ametropia among senegalese children in a hospital setting].

INTRODUCTION

Ametropia is common in children and cause strabismus and amblyopia. The goal was to establish its prevalence in a hospital setting among Senegalese children.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients under 15 years of age with clear ocular media. The marital status, circumstances of discovery, and results of cycloplegic refraction were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 1506 children, 175 demonstrated ametropia. The mean age was 8 years, and the male : female ratio was 0.68. Family history of ametropia was present in 8.5 %. Decreased VA was present in 39.66 %, headache 10.06 %, and strabismus 4.47 %. Automated refraction in 109 patients and skiascopy in one patient showed 58.18 % cases of myopia, 18.18 % of hyperopia and 36.57 % of astigmatism.

DISCUSSION: The most common ametropia was myopia. Patients were referred for symptomatic ametropia.

CONCLUSION

Screening for ametropia might occur earlier if it is associated with pediatric monitoring in our regions.