INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE To evaluate and compare the ocular morbidity status in students of Madrasahs and Govt. Schools of Kolkata. SUBJECTS AND METHODS An institution-based, cross-sectional observational study with comparison between two groups, sample size derived from a Delhi based similar study. Study population was formed by all students of class V-VIII of Madrasahs and Govt. Schools of Kolkata. Sample design was by simple random sampling using Program for Epidemiologist Version 4. Randomly

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... lected students were examined according to specified format to evaluate the socio-economic status; a questionnaire was given to each student to be filled by their parents. Data was evaluated on MS-Excel 2007, PEPI Version 4, SPSS Version 17. RESULTS 37.7% children with ocular morbidities were from Madrasahs, and 62.3% children with ocular morbidities were from Govt. Schools of Kolkata. BMI has no association with ocular morbidities. Refractive error was commonest ocular morbidity observed, 9.33% in Madrasah students and 18.15% in Govt. School students. Myopia was commonest refractive error observed. Low socioeconomic status meant significantly higher ocular morbidities, but reverse was not true. CONCLUSIONS Madrasah student has lesser ocular morbidity, refractive error was the commonest ocular morbidity, Myopia being the commonest. Higher socio-economic status does not mean lesser ocular morbidity.