Eye Health Screening for Students in an Elementary School within the Scope of School Health Nursing Roles

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to determine the eye health problems or visual defects of students in an elementary school and to provide care and treatment when necessary.
METHODS: The sample of this cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of 2,136 students in a primary school. In the process of data collection, student identification information form, vision screening form, and feedback form of teachers about screening developed by the researchers were used. Frequency and percentages were used to define categorical variables. Categorical variables were compared by the chisquare test.
RESULTS: From the results of the eye examination, blepharitis, strabismus, and inability to focus (2.2%) were the most common. According to the result of the visual acuity scan, the prevalence of refractive error was found to be 18.9%. A statistically significant difference was found between the suspicion of refractive error according to the age group (χ2 =50.071, P <.001). Feedback was obtained from 75.4% of the students who suspected refractive errors in any of their eyes. Of these students, 33.2% went to a doctor’s examination, 42.6% were given spectacles, 10.9% were started on medication, and 3% were given both medication and spectacles. The results of the screening show that 56.4% of the students who have a suspected refractive error in any of their eyes and who go to the doctor’s examination are detected correctly.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It should be noted that nurses play a key role in the provision and maintenance of school health services. In addition, it is recommended that research on the roles of nurses in identifying other problems that may be raised by screening be conducted and that nurses should be employed in schools.