Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in preschool and school children of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Methods :
A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed evaluating the medical records of children who participated of Projeto Primeiros Olhares (“First Sight Program”), conducted by HOFTALON - Hospital de Olhos - Londrina (”Londrina Eye Hospital”),from 2006 to 2015. Preschool and school children, 03 through 07 years of age were evaluated according to gender, presence and cause of decreased visual acuity.
Results :
2852 eyes were evaluated. The average age was 4,5 years old, 51,8% were male and 48,2% female. Decreased uncorrected visual acuity (VA <0,7) was observed in 5% of the studied children, mainly in north, south, east and rural areas of the city (7%). Unilateral blindness (VA < 0,1) occurred in 0,4% and subnormal vision in 1,3 ( < 0,1 VA < 0,3). The most important cause of decreased visual acuity was refractive error observed in 37% of the children with VA < 0,7.
Conclusions :
Decreased visual acuity not previously diagnosed was observed in 5% of the studied children. Refractive errors were the most important cause of visual impairment.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.