Prevalance of Strabismus in Children Attending Ophthalmology Out Patient Department in Saveetha Medical College and Hospital

BACKGROUND: Strabismus is a clinical condition where the visual axis of the two eyes do not meet at the point or object of regard under normal conditions. The aim of the study is to find the prevalence of strabismus in children between 3-16 years of age attending the ophthalmology OPD in Saveetha Medical College. METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective study conducted from January 2019 to march2019 at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital. All children between the age group of 3-16 were included in the study. Children aging below 3 and children aging above 16 were excluded in the study. Detailed history regarding birth, development, family and complaints were taken. Ocular movements, head posture, binocular functions, measurement of convergence and accommodation were tested. Strabismus was evaluated through prism bar test. The anterior chamber was examined through slit lamp evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 500 patients were included in the study. Among them total number of children with strabismus was 8. Thus the prevalence of strabismus is 1.6 %. Prevalence of strabismus among children of 3-10 years was 75 % whereas prevalence among 11-16 years was 25 %. Prevalence of strabismus among girls was 62.5 % whereas prevalence among boys was 37.5 %. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of strabismus was 1.6 % in a study population of 500. Prevalence among children of 3-10 years was higher than that of 10-16 years children. Prevalence among girls was more than that of boys. This study indicates that screening of strabismus among children could be useful in detection of asymptomatic cases, early detection of strabismus, appropriate prevention, medical and surgical treatment of strabismus.