Aim Much existing data on childhood refractive error prevalence in India were gathered in local studies, many now dated. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, severity and determinants of refractive errors among school-going children participating in a multistate vision screening programme across India. Methods In this cross-sectional study, vision screening was conducted in children aged 5–18 years at schools in five states using a pocket vision screener. Refractive error was measured using retinoscopy, and subjective refraction and was defined both by spherical equivalent (SE) and spherical ametropia, as myopia ≤−0.5 diopters (D), hyperopia ≥+1.0 D and/or astigmatism as >0.5 D. Data from the eye with less refractive error were used to determine prevalence. Results Among 2 240 804 children (50.9% boys, mean age 11.5 years, SD ±3.3), the prevalence of SE myopia was 1.57% (95% CI 1.54% to 1.60%) at 5–9 years, 3.13% (95% CI 3.09% to 3.16%) at 10–14 years and 4.8% (95% CI 4.73% to 4.86%) at 15–18 years. Hyperopia prevalence was 0.59% (95% CI 0.57% to 0.61%), 0.54% (95% CI 0.53% to 0.56%) and 0.39% (95% CI 0.37% to 0.41%), respectively. When defined by spherical ametropia, these values for myopia were 0.84%, 2.50% and 4.24%, and those for hyperopia were 2.11%, 2.41% and 2.07%, respectively. Myopia was associated with older age, female gender, private school attendance, urban location and state. The latter appeared to be driven by higher literacy rates. Conclusions Refractive error, especially myopia, is common in India. Differences in prevalence between states appear to be driven by literacy rates, suggesting that the burden of myopia may rise as literacy increases. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

中文翻译：

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印度多州研究显示在校儿童屈光不正的患病率

目标 印度儿童屈光不正患病率的许多现有数据都是在当地研究中收集的，其中许多数据现已过时。本研究的目的是评估印度各地参加多州视力筛查项目的在校儿童屈光不正的患病率、严重程度和决定因素。方法 在这项横断面研究中，使用袖珍视力筛查仪在五个州的学校对 5-18 岁的儿童进行了视力筛查。使用检影镜和主观验光测量屈光不正，并通过等效球镜（SE）和球面屈光不正定义为近视≤-0.5屈光度（D），远视≥+1.0D和/或散光>0.5D。 数据使用屈光不正较小的眼睛来确定患病率。结果 在 2 240 804 名儿童（50.9% 男孩，平均年龄 11.5 岁，SD ±3.3）中，5-9 岁时 SE 近视患病率为 1.57%（95% CI 1.54% 至 1.60%），3.13%（95% 10-14 岁时 CI 为 3.09% 至 3.16%），15-18 岁时为 4.8%（95% CI 4.73% 至 4.86%）。远视患病率分别为0.59%（95% CI 0.57%至0.61%）、0.54%（95% CI 0.53%至0.56%）和0.39%（95% CI 0.37%至0.41%）。以球面屈光不正定义时，近视的数值分别为0.84%、2.50%和4.24%，远视的数值分别为2.11%、2.41%和2.07%。近视与年龄较大、女性、私立学校就读率、城市位置和州有关。后者似乎是由较高的识字率推动的。结论 屈光不正，尤其是近视，在印度很常见。各州之间患病率的差异似乎是由识字率驱动的，这表明近视负担可能会随着识字率的提高而增加。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中或作为补充信息上传。