Prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Leila Rezaei1 *, Ehsan Havasi2 , Ahmad Jahanbakhshi3
- Associate professor of ophthalmology,Kermanshah university of medical science
- Kermanshah university of medical science
- Kermanshah army 520 number hospital
Abstract: : Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is a disorder that impairs true perception of colors. This disorder causes learning disabilities, academic failure and mental disorders in students. Previous studies on Iranian students report different prevalence; therefore the purpose of this study is to determine the overall prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods: The present study was performed by meta-analysis between January 1990 and December 2020. Articles related to the subject were obtained by searching the databases of Scopus, Cochrane Library, Sciencedirect, Embase, SID, magiran, barakatkns Medline, Google Scholar. The I2 index was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies and data analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.
Results: The total number of samples included in the study was 26,660 people in the age range of 7-18 years. The overall prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students based on meta-analysis was 3.8% (2.7-5.4%: 95% confidence interval). The overall prevalence of color blindness in Iranian male and female students based on meta-analysis was 4.7% (3.5-6.4%: 95% confidence interval) and 0.7% (0.3-1.3%: 95% confidence interval), respectively. The overall prevalence of red-green color blindness (tutan) was 41.7% (18.9-68.8%: 95% confidence interval). The overall prevalence of red color blindness (protan) was 13.9% (7.8-23.8%: 95% confidence interval) and the overall prevalence of green color blindness (deutan) based on meta-analysis was 45.3% (29-62.7%: 95% confidence interval). Also, with increasing sample size and year of research, the prevalence of color blindness in Iranian students decreases. Differences were statistically significant (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of color blindness in students, especially male students, it is necessary for health policy makers to take effective measures in the field of genetic testing in couples as well as parents who have color blind children.
