Criterios de referencia y barreras para la atención de personas con baja visión en Santander / Criteria for referral and barriers to care for people with low vision in Santander

Objetivo: Identificar criterios de derivación y barreras percibidas por los optómetras para la rehabilitación de personas con baja visión en Santander. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal que incluyó 82 optómetras de municipios de Santander, seleccionados mediante muestreo intencionado. Se diseñó un cuestionario con 36 preguntas para recolectar los datos que son reportados empleando estadística descriptiva. Resultados: El 47,5 % de los profesionales tiene claro el nivel de agudeza visual para clasificar a una persona con baja visión. Las principales barreras identificadas para el acceso a servicios de baja visión fueron: el proceso de derivación dentro del sistema de salud es engorroso (74,39 %), falta de servicios cerca (57,31 %) y considerar que los pacientes no pueden pagar las ayudas (48,78 %). Discusión: Es necesario fortalecer la formación de los optómetras para mejorar los procesos de identificación, atención y rehabilitación. Conclusiones: Es importante ubicar como prioritaria la discapacidad visual en Santander, para así robustecer la red de atención en salud.

Objective: To identify referral criteria and barriers perceived by optometrists for the rehabilitation of people with low vision in Santander. Methods: Cross-sectional study, which included 82 optometrists from municipalities of Santander, selected by purposive sampling. A questionnaire with 36 questions was designed to collect data that are reported using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 47.5% of the professionals are clear about the level of visual acuity to classify a person with low vision. The main barriers identified for access to low vision services were: the referral process within the health system is cumbersome (74.39%), lack of services nearby (57.31%) and considering that patients cannot afford the aids (48.78%). Discussion: It is necessary to strengthen the training of optometrists to improve the processes of identification, care and rehabilitation. Conclusions: It is important to prioritize visual impairment in Santander in order to strengthen the health care network.

Terapia visual: ¿En qué consiste y cuándo indicarla? / Vision therapy: what is it and when should it be indicated?

RESUMEN La terapia visual es un programa de ejercicios visuales personalizados, donde se realiza una estimulación neurofisiológica que nos permite desarrollar, mejorar e integrar las capacidades visuales. Esta serie de actividades específicas están pensadas para corregir problemas de visión. La terapia visual tiene como fin obtener una visión simple, nítida, confortable y eficaz. En la sociedad actual de la información y del conocimiento, donde hay un uso excesivo de la visión de cerca que provoca síntomas oculares como consecuencia del estrés visual, esta es una opción terapéutica a tener presente en sus diferentes variantes(AU)

ABSTRACT Vision therapy is a program of personalized visual exercises by which neurophysiological stimulation is provided to develop, improve and integrate visual capacities. It consists of a series of specific activities designed to correct vision problems. The purpose of vision therapy is to obtain single, neat, comfortable and efficient vision. In today's information and knowledge society, characterized by excessive use of near vision, leading to ocular symptoms resulting from visual stress, this is a therapy option to be taken into account in its various forms(AU)

Roberto Muñoz Monroy, el hermano del Médico del Moncada / Roberto Muñoz Monroy, the Moncada´s Doctor

Roberto Muñoz Monroy, fue el hermano menor del Médico del Moncada, Mario Muñoz Monroy. Fue también, un destacado colombino, que además de optometrista, incursionó en la música, el teatro y trabajó en el rescate de la historia del territorio (AU).

Roberto Muñoz Monroy was the youngest brother of Mario Muñoz Monroy, the Moncada´s doctor. He also was a conspicuous citizen of Colon that besides being an optometrist, played music and theater, and worked in rescuing the territorial history (AU).

Distribution of ophthalmologists and optometrists in Islamic Republic of Iran and their associated factors

We aimed to determine the distribution of ophthalmic care providers and its correlation with health and socioeconomic status and health system indicators. Data were gathered from the Iran Medical Council and the Iranian Societies of Ophthalmology and Optometry. Concurrent indicators were collected from the Statistical Center of Iran and national studies. A population-adjusted number of combined ophthalmologists and optometrists was used as the main dependent variable. Optometrist/ophthalmologist ratio was 0.9. We had 1 ophthalmologist and 1 optometrist for every 40 000 and 45 000 individuals, respectively. We observed a direct correlation between the number of ophthalmologists, optometrists and life expectancy at the provincial level. Gross provincial income and expenditure and provincial literacy were correlated as well. Provincial unemployment had a negative correlation. Provincial hospital statistics and population density were also significantly correlated. The Islamic Republic of Iran has met the World Health Organization's desired per capita number of ophthalmologists and optometrists, but there is wide variation in their density