Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective To investigate the visual acuity and refractive status of preschool children in the Sucheng District of Suqian city and analyze the incidence and distribution patterns of visual and refractive abnormalities in this district Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from Apr...

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Main Authors: Lei Shen, Yuqing Cui, Nana Zhao, Fan Yang, Qian Zhou, Xue Wang, Shuyan Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Ophthalmology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04254-x
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author Lei Shen
Yuqing Cui
Nana Zhao
Fan Yang
Qian Zhou
Xue Wang
Shuyan Qin
author_facet Lei Shen
Yuqing Cui
Nana Zhao
Fan Yang
Qian Zhou
Xue Wang
Shuyan Qin
author_sort Lei Shen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To investigate the visual acuity and refractive status of preschool children in the Sucheng District of Suqian city and analyze the incidence and distribution patterns of visual and refractive abnormalities in this district Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2024 and involved 27,062 children from 61 kindergartens in the district. Standard logarithmic visual acuity charts and the Spot VS100 binocular refractive screener were used to assess visual acuity and noncycloplegic refractive status. Chi-square tests and trend tests were employed to analyze differences in visual acuity and refractive status across age groups. Results Median visual acuity improved from 0.63 (3-year-olds) to 0.80 (6-year-olds). The overall prevalence of subnormal visual acuity was 12.4%, with a significantly higher rate observed in male participants (13.1%) than in female participants (11.5%, P<0.001). The total detection rate of refractive abnormalities was 13.02%. While the proportion of simple myopia tended to increase (χ²=33.15, P<0.001), the proportions of simple hyperopia, mixed astigmatism, and compound myopic astigmatism decreased with age (χ²=11.32, 6.84, 4.57; P<0.05). Although the proportion of emmetropia increased with age (84.41% to 88.15%), this trend was not statistically significant (P=0.121). Conclusion This cross-sectional study suggests an association between older age and lower detection rates of overall refractive abnormalities, alongside rising simple myopia prevalence. However, these findings require longitudinal confirmation to distinguish true developmental trends from cohort effects.
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spelling doaj-art-4af7ef47eb98405f89b27be150b44fad2025-08-20T03:45:56ZengBMCBMC Ophthalmology1471-24152025-07-012511710.1186/s12886-025-04254-xPrevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional studyLei Shen0Yuqing Cui1Nana Zhao2Fan Yang3Qian Zhou4Xue Wang5Shuyan Qin6Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian HospitalAbstract Objective To investigate the visual acuity and refractive status of preschool children in the Sucheng District of Suqian city and analyze the incidence and distribution patterns of visual and refractive abnormalities in this district Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2024 and involved 27,062 children from 61 kindergartens in the district. Standard logarithmic visual acuity charts and the Spot VS100 binocular refractive screener were used to assess visual acuity and noncycloplegic refractive status. Chi-square tests and trend tests were employed to analyze differences in visual acuity and refractive status across age groups. Results Median visual acuity improved from 0.63 (3-year-olds) to 0.80 (6-year-olds). The overall prevalence of subnormal visual acuity was 12.4%, with a significantly higher rate observed in male participants (13.1%) than in female participants (11.5%, P<0.001). The total detection rate of refractive abnormalities was 13.02%. While the proportion of simple myopia tended to increase (χ²=33.15, P<0.001), the proportions of simple hyperopia, mixed astigmatism, and compound myopic astigmatism decreased with age (χ²=11.32, 6.84, 4.57; P<0.05). Although the proportion of emmetropia increased with age (84.41% to 88.15%), this trend was not statistically significant (P=0.121). Conclusion This cross-sectional study suggests an association between older age and lower detection rates of overall refractive abnormalities, alongside rising simple myopia prevalence. However, these findings require longitudinal confirmation to distinguish true developmental trends from cohort effects.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04254-xChildrenPreschoolVisual acuityRefractive statusCross sectional study
spellingShingle Lei Shen
Yuqing Cui
Nana Zhao
Fan Yang
Qian Zhou
Xue Wang
Shuyan Qin
Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
BMC Ophthalmology
Children
Preschool
Visual acuity
Refractive status
Cross sectional study
title Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
title_full Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
title_short Prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in Sucheng district: a cross-sectional study
title_sort prevalence and patterns of subnormal visual acuity and refractive errors among preschool children in sucheng district a cross sectional study
topic Children
Preschool
Visual acuity
Refractive status
Cross sectional study
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04254-x
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