Prevalence and Pattern of Refractive Errors Among School-Aged Children in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, Nigeria

Background: Refractive errors remain the most common visual disorder in childhood, with prevalence varying across regions due to differences in ethnicity, urbanization, and study methodology. Data on refractive error prevalence among school-aged children in rural Nigerian settings remain limited. This study determined the prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among school-aged children in Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted involving 450 children aged 10-18 years selected from secondary schools using multistage sampling. All participants underwent comprehensive ocular examinations including visual acuity assessment and cycloplegic autorefraction. Refractive errors were classified as emmetropia, myopia, or hyperopia, with further grading by severity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics at p<0.05 significance level. Results: Out of 450 participants, 322 (71.6%) were found to have refractive errors. Myopia was the most prevalent (42.3%, n=190), followed by hyperopia (29.3%, n=132) and emmetropia (28.4%, n=128). Among myopic participants, low myopia constituted the highest proportion (25.8%), followed by moderate myopia (14.3%) and high myopia (2.2%). Among hyperopic participants, low hyperopia was most common (14.9%), followed by moderate hyperopia (13.6%) and high hyperopia (0.9%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of refractive errors (71.6%) among school-aged children in Isuikwuato LGA underscores a significant public health concern. Myopia was the predominant refractive error, with low-grade errors being most common. These findings highlight the urgent need for routine school-based vision screening programs and accessible eye care services in rural Nigerian communities.