Refractive error, prevalence, Benin City, optometry, retrospective study, pediatric eye care

Refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and few cases anisometropia are major causes of visual impairment in children worldwide. In Nigeria, many cases remain undetected due to inadequate screening programs and limited data. Understanding the prevalence and distribution of refractive errors in children is essential for targeted interventions and effective public health planning. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of refractive errors in children aged 6–18 years attending selected hospitals in Benin City, Edo State. A retrospective study was used and the number of records reviewed was 719 and the information on the age, gender, type of refractive error and visual acuity was gathered from selected hospitals in Benin City. The findings showed that astigmatism refractive error was the most common with 48.8% of errors followed by myopia (32.8) and hyperopia (11.3) with less prevalence of anisometropia. Women and children (13- 18 years old) were overrepresented. The cases of astigmatism were multiplying five times over the study period and almost 60 percent of the diagnosis of refractive errors in recent years was attributed to astigmatism and myopia was found to be at its peak in the middle years. Hyperopia was comparatively low and cannot be disregarded because of its correlation with amblyopia and difficulties with learning. The distribution of refractive errors based on age and gender was tested statistically and found to be significantly different (p<0.05). These results are in line with the regional and global trends where the lifestyle in cities, academic needs, and genes influence the observed trends. The study has emphasized the significance of early diagnosis, periodic eye check-ups in schools, and specific measures to minimize avoidable visual loss in the children. It also throws light at how important it is that policy makers should focus on pediatric eye health services and education of the population in Edo State and other urban areas which thereby contribute to the growing body of knowledge required to shape pediatric optometric policies and training in Nigeria.