Global and regional estimates of prevalence of refractive errors: Systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was a systematic review of refractive errors across the world according to the WHO regions. METHODS: To extract articles on the prevalence of refractive errors for this meta-analysis, international databases were searched from 1990 to 2016. The results of the retrieved studies were merged using a random effect model and reported as estimated pool prevalence (EPP) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: = 0.097). CONCLUSION: This report showed that astigmatism was the most common refractive errors in children and adults followed by hyperopia and myopia. The highest prevalence of myopia and astigmatism was seen in South-East Asian adults. The highest prevalence of hyperopia in children and adults was seen in the Americas.