Refractive error prevalence among the traditional Quranic boarding schools in Al-Gezira, Sudan

Background: Uncorrected refractive error is an avoidable aetiology of visual impairment, negatively affecting children’s quality of life. There is limited evidence related to the prevalence of refractive errors among the children or adolescent population within Sudan. Aim: To determine the prevalence and types of refractive error among children enrolled in traditional Quranic boarding schools in the Al-Gezira state, Sudan. Setting: This cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted within the student population of traditional Quranic boarding schools in Al-Gezira, Sudan. Methods: A total of 551 male children from eight schools underwent subjective and objective refraction, including direct ophthalmoscopy as well as binocular vision assessment. Results: Out of the total 551 school children, the refractive error prevalence was 6.2% ( n = 34). The prevalence of myopia among the participants was 5.1% ( n = 28), followed by hypermetropia 1.1% ( n = 6). Astigmatism was diagnosed in 3.3% ( n = 18) of the study population classified as myopic astigmatism of 2.4% ( n = 13) and hyperopic astigmatism 0.9% ( n = 5). Conclusion: This study found the prevalence of refractive errors among the children as 6.2%. It provides baseline data about refractive error among the children in this sample, which is useful as a reference point, however further studies need to be conducted in all the Quranic schools of Sudan. Contribution: This study offers a principal information about the ametropia among the children in this community and highlights the need for further refractive errors related epidemiological studies within the region.