Eye Screening Data for First Year University Students in Ghana

Description

The dataset comprises ocular, visual, and questionnaire data. We carried out the data collection over two consecutive academic years (2024 and 2025) as part of institution- wide entry-level eye health screening activities. A total of 2,494 participants completed both the questionnaire and the clinical eye examination and were included in the final dataset. Each participant was assigned a unique anonymized identifier (“ID”) to allow linkage between questionnaire responses and clinical examination records while preserving participant confidentiality. The identifier follows an alphanumeric format (UFES/YY/XXXX), where UFES denotes the project name, YY indicates the year of screening (2024 or 2025), and XXXX represents the participant’s sequential number in the screening register.

Steps to reproduce

Overview of Data Generation and Reproducibility Framework The dataset was generated through a structured, cross-sectional screening protocol embedded within a university entry-level ocular health assessment programme. 1. Study Design and Workflow The study followed a cross-sectional design conducted over two academic years among first-year undergraduate students. The workflow consisted of: 1. Pre-screening phase o Online structured questionnaire completed prior to screening. o Platform: secure web-based survey system. o Data exported in CSV format. 2. On-site screening phase o Identity verification and confirmation of questionnaire completion. o Sequential clinical examination using a predefined examination protocol. o Paper-based standardized clinical forms used for structured recording. 3. Data integration phase o Clinical data digitized manually into a spreadsheet database. o Questionnaire and clinical datasets merged using anonymized participant IDs. o Data cleaning performed using spreadsheet validation rules. 2. Instruments and Clinical Protocols All examinations were performed under standardized indoor lighting. Visual Acuity • Instrument: Snellen chart (6 m), standard near chart. • Protocol: Monocular testing. • Additional tests: o +1.00D blur test (latent hyperopia screening). o Pinhole test (VA ≤ 6/7.5). • Recording format: Structured Snellen numerator/denominator. Binocular Vision & Accommodation • Near cover test (30 cm). • Broad H test (extraocular motility). • Near point of convergence: RAF rule (break/recovery in cm). • Amplitude of accommodation: RAF rule (monocular, diopters). Refraction • Instrument: Autorefractor. • Protocol: Three readings averaged (sphere, cylinder, axis). • Aided VA recorded where applicable. Pupils and Visual Fields • Instrument: Penlight (direct, consensual, near reflex). • Confrontation field testing (quadrant-based recording). Anterior & Posterior Segment • Instruments: Penlight and direct ophthalmossdfgsgsdfgsdfhgdgcope. • Recorded parameters: Cup-to-disc ratio, asymmetry, lamina cribrosa visibility, Elschnig classification, foveal reflex, retinal findings. Intraocular Pressure • Instrument: Rebound tonometer. • Protocol: Six readings per eye; device-generated mean recorded (mmHg). • Time of measurement documented. 3. Referral Criteria (Predefined Thresholds) Participants were referred if any of the following were present: • Reduced visual acuity suggestive of refractive error • Asthenopic symptoms • IOP ≥ 21 mmHg • CDR ≥ 0.5 or inter-eye asymmetry ≥ 0.3 • Optic nerve head abnormalities • Posterior segment pathology 4. Data Management and Software • Data entry: Microsoft Excel • Data cleaning: Range checks, logical validation, duplicate ID removal

Institutions

• University of Cape Coast

  Central, Cape Coast
• Cardiff University

  Wales, Cardiff

Categories

Funders

• Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

  Cardiff
• University of Cape Coast

Licence