Abstract.Visual acuity, refraction, and the components of refraction were measured in 788 Melanesian children in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. of the 788 children, 97.2% were found to have uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6, 96.8% were found to have a spherical equivalent refraction between ‐0.25 and +1.00 D, 2.9% were found to have myopia of 0.50 or more, 0.25% were found to have hyperopia of 1.25 D or more, and 0.25% were found to have refractive astigmatism of 1.25 D or more. The low prevalence of ametropia may be considered to be due mainly to genetic factors; however, the possibility of environmental factors cannot be ruled ou