Analysis of Refractive Status between Urban and Rural Region in 13-year-old Children

Purpose. To analyze the refractive status between urban and rural regions, of children in Korea, in the age group of 13. Methods. From October 2016 to January 2017, forty subjects( 20 male subjects, 20 female subjects; 13 years) were performed in refraction test using the Auto-Refraction. Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia were defined as spherical equivalent(SE)${\leq}-0.50$ diopters, SE ${\geq}+1.00D$, cylinder error ${\geq}0.75D$ and SE difference${\geq}1.00D$ between binocular eyes, respectively. Results. The refractive error by spherical equivalent among all subjects was myopia 76.25%, astigmatism 35%, emmetropia 16.25%, anisometropia 8.75%, and hyperopia 5%. The prevalence of myopia and astigmatism were much more common in urban than rural region although the difference was not statically significant. Emmetropia and astigmatism were much more common in rural region than urban although the difference was not statically significant. The prevalence of spherical equivalent was much common from -1.00 diopter to -4.00 diopter. On the other hand, the prevalence of myopia was much more than hyperopia. There was a statistical significance between OD and OS of rural region in the spherical equivalent power(p<.000). Also, There was a statistical significance between OD and OS of urban region in the spherical equivalent power(p<.004). Therefore, there was a significant statistical similarity between urban and rural regions on the OD and OS in the spherical equivalent power. On the other hand, There was a significant statistical similarity between urban and rural regions of the OD and OS in the astigmatism power(p<0.000). However, in the rural and urban regions there was not statistical significance in the OD and OS concerning the spherical equivalent power and astigmatism power (p>0.1). Conclusions. Myopia was the most common refractive error in Korea young children. while hyperopia was few. There was not a statistical significance as age between rural and urban at spherical equivalent power( P> 0.01). These results suggested that the analysis of the refractive status at young children can give the useful diagnosis data for the correction of visual acuity.

도시와 농촌의 13세 어린이에 대한 굴절상태 분석