Objective:
To identify the levels of visual impairment and prevalence of eye diseases and refractive errors in children seen at a referral center for ophthalmology in the Central-West region compare findings with published data for other regions of Brazil.
Methods:
Crosssectional, descriptive and retrospective analysis of medical records of children enrolled in the Center of Reference in Ophthalmology Universidade Federal de Goiás, in the period between april 2009 and march 2010.
Results:
A total of 2408 patient charts, and 2128 (88.4%) of elective care and 280 (11.6%) of care in the emergency department CEROF. Predominated in the age group 6-10 years (44.2%), followed by 11-14 years (29.6%). The examination was normal in 12.9% (n=274) of elective care and 6.8 (n=19) of emergency visits. The disease most commonly found in children were infectious conjunctivitis (248 cases, 26.4%) and allergic (204 cases, 21.7%), blepharitis (69 cases, 7.3%), chalazion (34 cases, 3.6 %), strabismus (133 cases, 12.06%), diseases of retina and vitreous (24 cases, 2.6%), cataract and lens changes (20 cases, 2.1%). Ametropia frequently told by eye, were hyperopia (46.9%) and astigmatism (42.2%) and systemic diseases were more informed prematurity (30 cases) and diabetes mellitus (26 cases).
Conclusion:
This study identified the main causes of eye diseases in children seen in a university referral center. The group of diseases more prevalent was the disease of the cornea and conjunctiva (allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye and keratitis). Diseases were the second eyelid (blepharitis, chalazion, and lacrimal obstructions). The refractive errors were the most common hyperopia and astigmatism. The findings in the study population are shown similar to those observed in the national literature.
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