Purpose: To report the data obtained through a project based on visual screening of newborns from three reference public maternities of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Methods: This investigation was a prospective study, according to a previously elaborated protocol and organogram. A multidisciplinary team of 37 professionals was involved. This team was trained and conferences were given to ophthalmologists, directors, pediatricians, neonatologists, obstetricians and nurses of each service. Ocular exams were performed in the selected maternity hospitals. The highly complex cases were referred to the Altino Ventura Foundation. Search for conjunctival flora in neonates and vaginal flora in their mothers was performed in 25 cases. Results: Twenty ophthalmologists were trained to perform ocular examination in newborns. Visual screening was conducted in 3,280 of them (1,601 females and 1,679 males). Ocular abnormalities or risk factors were found in 701 cases (21.4%). Retinal hemorrhage was the most frequent ocular abnormality seen in 255 cases (7.8%). The more prevalent risk factor for eye disease was retinopathy of prematurity found in 325 cases (9.9%). These patients were referred to specialized services. Of these 65 (20.0%) were examined and 15 (23.1%) had some stage of retinopathy of prematurity. The examination of the conjunctival flora of the newborns (50 eyes) showed at least one microorganism in 13 eyes (26.0%). Babies of 18 mothers with positive vaginal culture for Staphylococcus epidermis 10 (40.0%) had the same bacterium in one or both eyes. Conclusions: The authors emphasize that this was a pioneer project and that it provided a greater interaction among ophthalmologists and other health professionals, ophthalmic training in performing eye examination in newborns, allowing a better knowledge of ocular morbidity in the region, providing adequate treatment and follow up of the cases at an earlier age.
Neonatal screening; Conjunctiva; Vagina; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Retinal hemorrhage; Eye diseases; Retinopathy of prematurity; Practice guidelines; Risk factors; Pregnancy; Newborn infant; Prospective studies
