Prevalence of usual-corrected distance visual acuity impairment in Hispanic and non-Hispanic children and adolescents

Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Nati onal Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I were analysed to determine t he prevalence of visual acuity impairment among US Hispanics and non-Hispan ics aged 6-19 years. The prevalence of 20/30 or worse distance visual acuit y with usual or habitual correction ranged from 10.8% in non-Hispanic white s to 19.1% in Puerto Ricans. Puerto Rican boys aged 13-19 years had signifi cantly greater rates of moderate or greater impairment (20/70 or worse) tha n 6-12-year-old Puerto Rican boys (5.7% vs. 0.7%). The prevalence of visual impairment was generally greater in girls than in boys. Assessment and com parison of refractive error and eye disease prevalence rates are necessary in future studies to determine factors influencing prevalence of visual acu ity impairment in children.