Prevalence and Impact of Uncorrected Refractive Errors On Academic Performance of Public Secondary School Students in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Uncorrected refractive errors (UREs) remain a leading cause of visual impairment globally particularly among school aged children, where they can severely hinder learning capacity and academic achievement. This study assessed the prevalence of URE s and their impact on academic performance among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, enrolling a total of 193 students from selected public secondary school through a multistage sampling method. The sample comprised 43.00% males and 56.99% females, aged between 10 and 24years, with a mean age of 16.19±3.68years. Visual acuity was measured using a standard Snellen chart, and refractive errors were further confirmed using a handheld autorefractor. Academic performance was evaluated based on the students terminal examination scores obtained from school records. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and clinical data, while the chi-square test was applied to determine the association between visual acuity status and academic performance, with significance set at p