Impact of uncorrected refractive errors on eye-related quality of life and functional vision in a cohort of African children

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of refractive errors on functional vision and eye-related quality of life (QoL) in a cohort of African children, using the Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ).

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 169 children aged 5-17 years (97 with refractive errors and 72 visually normal controls) and their parents/guardians. Refractive errors were classified based on cycloplegic refraction. The PedEyeQ was administered through interviewer-assisted sessions to assess functional vision and psychosocial well-being across child, proxy and parent-reported domains. Statistical analyses were conducted using Mann-Whitney U-tests for group comparisons and Kruskal-Wallis tests for subgroup analyses, with Bonferroni corrections applied for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Children with refractive errors had significantly lower PedEyeQ scores across all domains compared with controls (p < 0.01). Among refractive error types, astigmatism showed the most pronounced deficits in functional vision and psychosocial well-being. For children aged 5-11 years, median functional vision scores were 50 (43.7-70.0) for refractive error versus 90 (67.5-95.0) for the controls. Similarly, for children aged 12-17 years, the respective scores were 65 (45.0-75.0) and 90 (75.0-95.0). Proxy and parent-reported domains demonstrated similar findings, highlighting substantial impacts on family QoL and parental concerns.

CONCLUSION

Refractive errors, particularly astigmatism, impair functional vision and eye-related QoL severely in African children and their families, suggesting a need for early detection and correction to improve outcomes for these children.

The social construction of genomics and genetic analysis in ocular diseases in Ibadan, South-western Nigeria

Genomics, an emerging field to improve public health practice, has potential benefits to understanding ocular diseases. This study explored the social construction of genomics in ocular diseases in the blind community in Ibadan, Nigeria, through two focus group discussions and twelve in-depth interview sessions conducted among people living with ocular disorders. The data were thematic and content-analysed. Although the participants had limited knowledge about ocular diseases, genomics, and their nexus, they maintained a positive attitude toward its potential benefits. This informed their willingness to participate in genomics testing for ocular diseases. The participants preferred saliva-based sample collection over blood-based, and expressed concern for the procedure and accrued benefits of genomics studies. Thus, public sensitisation about ocular diseases and client-centred genomics testing procedures should be engendered.

The Role of Village Doctors in Residents' Uptake of Eye Screening: Evidence from Ageing Residents in Rural China

The lack of formal eye screening is the main reason for insufficient eye care utilization in rural China. Cataract, in particular, is increasingly prevalent with the aging population, but the treatment rate is relatively low. Village doctors are the most accessible health care resource for rural residents, receiving few empirical investigations into their role in eye care. This study aims to assess the role of village doctors in residents’ uptake of eye screening (vision and cataract screening), the first step of cataract treatment. Data come from a community-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in 35 villages of a county of the Gansu Province, Northwestern China, in 2020. Among 1010 residents aged ≥ 50 and 35 village doctors, the multivariate logistic regression shows that village doctors’ age, time spent on public health service, and service population were positively associated with residents’ uptake of vision and cataract screening. Village doctors were capable of playing an active role in primary eye health services due to their richer knowledge about cataracts than residents (accuracy rate 86.75% vs. 63.50%, p < 0.001), but less than half of them were willing to undertake eye screening. This study highlights the positive role of village doctors in aging residents’ eye screening and the potential role in improving the uptake of eye screening by offering health education.