Refractive errors in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga (Colombia) / Erros refrativos em crianças e adolescents em Bucaramanga (Colombia)

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of refractive errors in children and adolescents aged between 8 and 17 years old, living in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga (Colombia). Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of two descriptive cross-sectional studies that applied sociodemographic surveys and assessed visual acuity and refraction. Ametropias were classified as myopic errors, hyperopic errors, and mixed astigmatism. Eyes were considered emmetropic if none of these classifications were made. The data were collated using free software and analyzed with STATA/IC 11.2. Results: One thousand two hundred twenty-eight individuals were included in this study. Girls showed a higher rate of ametropia than boys. Hyperopic refractive errors were present in 23.1% of the subjects, and myopic errors in 11.2%. Only 0.2% of the eyes had high myopia (≤-6.00 D). Mixed astigmatism and anisometropia were uncommon, and myopia frequency increased with age. There were statistically significant steeper keratometric readings in myopic compared to hyperopic eyes. Conclusions: The frequency of refractive errors that we found of 36.7% is moderate compared to the global data. The rates and parameters statistically differed by sex and age groups. Our findings are useful for establishing refractive error rate benchmarks in low-middle-income countries and as a baseline for following their variation by sociodemographic factors.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer a frequência de erros refrativos em crianças e adolescentes com idade entre 8 e 17 anos, residentes na região metropolitana de Bucaramanga (Colômbia). Métodos: Este estudo foi uma análise secundária de dois estudos descritivos transversais que aplicaram levantamentos sociodemográficos e avaliaram a acuidade e a refração visuais. As ametropias foram classificadas como erros miopicos, erros hipermetrópicos e astigmatismo misto. Os olhos eram considerados emétropes se nenhuma dessas classificações fosse feita. Os dados foram coletados usando software livre e analisados com STATA/IC 11.2. Resultados: Mil e duzentos e vinte e oito indivíduos foram incluídos neste estudo. As meninas mostraram uma maior taxa de ametropia do que os meninos. Erros refrativos hipermetrópicos estavam presentes em 23,1% dos indivíduos e erros miópicos em 11,2%. Apenas 0,2% dos olhos apresentavam miopia alta (≤-6,00 D). O astigmatismo misto e a anisometropia eram incomuns e a frequência de miopia aumentava com a idade. Houve leituras queratométricas mais acentuadas estatisticamente significativas em míopes em comparação com os olhos hipermétropes. Conclusões: A frequência de erros de refração que encontramos em 36,7% é moderada em comparação com os dados globais. As taxas e os parâmetros diferiram estatisticamente por sexo e grupos etários. Nossas descobertas são úteis para estabelecer padrões de referência de erro de refração em países de baixa renda média e como base para seguir sua variação por fatores sociodemográficos.

Prevalence and progression rate of myopia among medical students of internship course in Islamic Azad University, Tehran medical unit

This study was performed to evaluate the myopia prevalence, myopia progression, and various potential myopia risk factors in medical students' final year [Internship period at Islamic Azad University, Tehran unit. In this cross-sectional study, 240 medical students were selected through simple random sampling. The students, who spend Internship course at the university hospitals in the first term of 1383, were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess the prevalence of myopia, myopia Progression, and possible risk factors. The first part of questionnaire was completed by all participants and the second part was completed only by myopias. Myopia was defined on a per student basis at the mean spherical equivalent of equal to or less than - 0.5 diopters [D] at the end of medical school. Myopia progression defined as the difference between current myopia and spherical equivalent at the beginning of medical school. Among 240 students, the prevalence of myopia was 22.1%, myopia and astigmatism 29.2%, astigmatism 12.1%, astigmatism and hyperopia 2.9%, hyperopia 1.7%. The prevalence of total refractive errors was 67.9% and the prevalence of myopia found to be 51.3%. The mean equivalent sphere for the myopic student was - 2.28 D and the mean myopia progression during medical school was - 0.75 D. Myopia increased in 78.8% during medical college. Among myopic student 10% become myopic after the beginning of medical School. The mean age of onset of myopia was at 16 years of age. There was significantly statistical association between myopia and female gender, age of onset, positive myopia family history, and reading distance. Prevalence of myopia in our study was higher than worldwide prevalence. It may demonstrate the role of academic education and generally the reading required works as a risk factor for myopia

Prevalence of refractive error in mentally retarded students of Kathmandu Valley.

Mental retardation also known as 'mentally handicap' means a delay or insufficient development of mental capacities. The prevalence of mental retardation in Nepal is 4.1%. Vision being the best sense for their education and daily activities, a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted to find out the refractive error among the students in the schools for mentally retarded people. A total of 134 clinically diagnosed cases of mentally retarded students from three different schools of Kathmandu Valley were examined. Distance visual acuity was taken with the help of Cat Ford Vision Drum, SG chart and Kay Picture Test method but first preference was given to SG chart. Cyclo-retinoscopy and fundus examination under mydriasis were done in all the cases. Examination revealed that more than half of the examined had one or more ocular disorders with refractive error being the most common type of ocular morbidity followed by ocular motility disorders. Refractive errors were found in 34.4% in which the most common type of refractive error was simple hypermetropia. In conclusion refractive error was seen commonly among mentally retarded people of Kathmandu Valley.

Prevalence of amblyopia in ametropias in a clinical set-up.

OBJECTIVE: To find out prevalence of amblyopia in ametropias in a clinical set-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective clinical study children from 4-5 years age group to the young adults who attended the eye clinic in one year period were included after taking history, VA test by Snellen's Vision Chart, cycloplegic refraction by streak retinoscope in children and wet or dry retinospcopy in young adults; and a thorough anterior and posterior segment eye examinations by slit lamp biomicroscope and ophthalmoscope to exclude structural abnormality of the eye or the posterior visual pathway defects. A total of 970 eye patients having diminution of vision with ametropias were identified and patients having reduction of visual acuity of greater than two lines between the eyes or an absolute reduction in acuity below 6/9 either eye in snellen's vision chart which cannot be corrected by refraction were enrolled to find out prevalence of amblyopia. RESULTS: Out of 970 ametropic eye patients amblyopia was present in 56 patients (5.97%) with anisometropias and high bilateral ametropias. The prevalence of amblyopia according to types of ametropias are: hyperopia 6 (10.71%), myopia 2 (3.57%), myopic astigmatism 31 (55.36%), hyperopic astigmatism 11 (19.64%) and mixed astigmatism 6 (10.71%). Sex distribution of amblyopia is male 32 (57.14%) and female 24 (42.86%). Laterality of amblyopia shows: monocular 40 (71.43%) and binocular 16 (28.57%). CONCLUSION: Out of 970 ametropic eye patients a total of 56 (5.97%) patients have amblyopia. A preschool and school screening program in children in critical period of development of amblyopia must be conducted to find out the ametropias and amblyopia in time; and treat them earlier, by optical correction and amblyopia therapy, effectively and adequately.

A acomodaçäo tônica nas categorias refrativas / Tonic accomodation and refractive state

A autora comparou os resultados do exame de refraçäo por dois métodos diferentes: a retinoscopia para perto que mede a acomodaçäo tônica e a refraçäo sob ciclopegia, onde a acomodaçäo tônica é igual a zero, em condiçöes uniformizadas. A diferença entre os dois resultados, nos dois métodos, foi observada nos três grupos refrativos (míopes, hipermétropes e emétropes) sendo constatado que a acomodaçäo tônica é maior nos hipermétropes que nos míopes

Salud visual en poblacion menor de 15 anos: programa de atencion primaria en salud, Antioquia, Colombia / Study of visual health applying a methodology of primary health care in Antioquia, Colombia

En desarrollo de una campana de salud visual se revisaron 336.354 ninos entre 5 y 14 anos de edad en el Departamento de Antioquia, durante los periodos escolares comprendidos entre octubre de 1986 y abril de 1988. Se motivo a la comunidad sobre los cuidados de la vision y sobre la importancia de identiificar a temprana edad y atender en forma oportuna los problemas oftalmologicos. Con el fin de lograr una cobertura total de la poblacion objeto se capacitaron 583 funcionarios del Gobierno Departamental y voluntarios de la comunidad, quienes a su vez se conviertieron en multplicadores de esa capacitacion en sus lugares de trabajo. Ademas se solucioaron los problemas de refraccion dotando de anteojos a los ninos que los necesitaran

A prevalence survey of ocular diseases in the school population aged 5 to 14 years, in Antioquia, Colombia, was carried out. Methodologies of Primary Health Care were employed; the target population was first examined by previously trained school teachers. Suspicious cases were referred to optometrists and, If necessary, to ophthalmologists. A total of 336.354 children were studied; in the primary screening 52.153 were found to have refraction problems; of them 12.233 were confirmed by optometrists and 7.556 required and received eye-glasses for correction