Impact of Refractive Errors on Visual Acuity and Academic Performance Among Schoolchildren
Keywords:
Refractive error, visual acuity, academic performance, vision screeningAbstract
Uncorrected refractive error can affect visual function and academic performance in schoolchildren, thus emphasising the importance of timely correction. This study examined changes in visual acuity before and after the use of glasses among 648 schoolchildren living in Kuala Lumpur. Of these, 255 schoolchildren were randomly selected for the assessment of academic performance in four main subjects, namely Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, and Science, using the Tahap Penguasaan (TP1-TP6) levels. Myopia was the most prevalent refractive error, followed by hyperopia and astigmatism. Optimal visual correction significantly improved visual acuity and positively impacted higher TP scores.
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