Dataset for the Bhutan School Sight Survey.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence, demographic distribution, and predictors of refractive error (RE) among school children in Bhutan using secondary data from the 2019 Bhutan School Sight Survey (BSSS). It also sought to compare these population-level findings with standardized estimates from the Refractive Error Study in Children (RESC). Secondary data from 586 schools, comprising 164,365 school-enrolled children aged 5–18 years (94.3% of the national school-age population), were analyzed. As part of the BSSS, vision screening and cycloplegic refraction were conducted following the RESC protocol. Spectacles were provided at no cost to children requiring correction. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data on demographic and school-related variables, and logistic regression to identify associated predictors. Findings were compared with previously published RESC data to contextualise observed trends. Visual impairment (VI) affected 12.14% (95% CI: 11.98-12.30) of school-aged children in Bhutan, with higher rates in females (13.16%) than males (11.07%) (p