Dear Editor-in-Chief,

Visual impairments (VI) among school students represent a significant public health concern, affecting educational performance and overall development. Recent studies indicate considerable variations in the prevalence of visual impairments among school-aged children across different regions and research studies:

1. Prevalence Rates of Visual Impairments

Global Context: A comprehensive study indicated that the overall prevalence rate of VI among students aged 6 to 18 years was approximately 57.93%, with a notable increase during the COVID-19 pandemic (from 53.48% to 54.65%) (2). This increase was especially notable in older age groups, with prevalence rates reaching 80.04% among 17-year-olds and 79.64% among 18-year-olds (1).

Qatar: A study reported that 10.4% of students in government schools and 12.6% in private schools had abnormal visual acuity (2).

Basra, Iraq: In Basra, a study indicated that 24% of elementary students had poor grades, suggesting a correlation between visual impairment and academic performance (3).