Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the visual acuity and others ocular diseases of the schoolchildren during the survey of trachoma in Bauru
Methods: :
one thousand seven hundred and forty nine children were examined, ageing between 6-12 years old. The trachoma diagnosis was according to the World Health Organization protocol. Patients with clinical follicular trachoma had laboratory confirmation by fluorescent antibodies cytology for Chlamydia trachomatis and were treated using Azytromicin. Visual acuity according to Snellen chart was done in all children. Complete ophthalmic evaluation was provided to children presenting visual acuity under 20/30, including retinoscopy, objective and subjective refraction, direct ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy.
Results: :
Visual acuity according Snellen chart was under 20/30 in 5,2% of children and some of them never had a complete ophthalmologic exam before and astigmatism was present in 27,4% of these children. Other diseases not related to trachoma were detected beyond the refractive errors as strabismus (0,68%), microphthalmia (0,05%), allergic conjunctivitis (0,17%), congenital ptosis (0,05%) an congenital dacryostenosis (0,05%).
Conclusions: :
the authors point out the necessity to have complete ophthalmic evaluation during Trachoma survey whereas this is an opportunity to treat other important blindness causes.
Keywords: trachoma • visual acuity • astigmatism