We performed a vision screening of 1883 Chinese schoolchildren from 4
schools around Kuala Lumpur in June 1990. The group contained 1083 mal
es and 800 females. Visual acuity, refractive error, oculomotor balanc
e, and axial length were measured. The prevalence of myopia in Chinese
schoolchildren was found to be 37% in the 6- to 12-year age group and
50% in the 13- to 18-year age group. Approximately 63% of the sample
had unaided visual acuity of 6/6 or better and 24% had unaided acuity
of 6/12 or worse. Six hundred twenty-five students (33%) failed the vi
sion screening test and were referred for further examinations. The gr
oup which failed the vision screening test and had the highest rate of
referral (46%) was the 11- to 12-year-old age group. The most common
visual disorder was uncorrected myopia, accounting for 38% of the refe
rrals (235 students). Only 26% of the sample were wearing a spectacle
correction.