[The analysis of refractive error in children and adolescents from 6-15 years of age based on 1000 examinations in two major Polish regions].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present the results of screening examinations of refractive errors, taken on 1002 of school children ranging from 6 to 15 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As the result of Internet screening visual acuity and color perception tests named "I can see..." in 10,021 children from randomly chosen schools in Poland in the year 2002, the group of 1002 children was chosen. In this group, the subjective and objective refractive error examination was taken as well as the visual acuity test, color perception with the use of Ishihara tables and full ophthalmologic examination. RESULTS: Average visual acuity was RE: 0.72 (SD +/- 0.31) and LE: 0.72 (SD +/- 0.31). The prevalence of emmetropia was 34%. In the examined group myopia in 17%, hyperopia in 20%, astigmatism in 5.5% of children was found, and in 24.5% of patients complex errors occur such as myopic and hyperopic astigmatism.