Screening in Public School Children in Clorinda / North–Argentina

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To conduct an eye screening in public primary schoolchildren in an Argentinean / Paraguayan border town. Methods: 399 children (age 4 – 15 years) of 5 different primary schools underwent a basic eye screening in schooltime under parents consent. This included vision tests (Snellen charts) and basic paediatric eye examination (i.e. ocular alignment, cover test). A questionnaire was used to collect data: a. the sociological and nutritional situation b. reading, studying and TV–watching habits. Children with differing screening results were invited to a follow–up examination at the local hospitals clinic, i.e. objective refraction. Results: : A total of 399 children (mean age 7.9), n = 66 indigenous origin and n = 333 non–indigenous origin were screened. N = 265 / 399 (66.4%) reported a medical exam in their life before. This included an eye exam in n = 103 / 265 (38.9%) cases. Visual acuity of 8/10 or better (in one or tw eyes eyes) occurred in n = 383 (95.9%). Less than 8/10 was present in n = 16 (4%) with Finger count (n = 1/ 0.25%) being the worst. Insufficient convergence reaction was observed in n = 18 (4.5%), positive cover test in n = 5 patients (1.3%) with no other detected irregular ocular alignment. Papillary conjunctivitis was seen in n = 189 (47.4%). Achromasia was detected in two patients (0.5%). Follow–up examinations were more frequent with the indigenous (n = 27 / 66, 40.9%) vs. the non–indigenous group (n = 73 / 333; 21.9%). Conclusions: In this area nutritional / socioeconomic reasons are mayor motivations for public school attendance. Prior eye examination was done in 103 / 399 (25.8%) patients. In this screening n = 16 (4%) of the children showed vision less than 8/10 in one or two eyes. Thus insufficient convergence reactions (4.5%) and positive cover test (1.3%) no irregular ocular alignment was detected.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • amblyopia • strabismus