Vision for the Future Project: Screening impact on the prevention and treatment of visual impairments in public school children in São Paulo City, Brazil

Abstract

Uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of visual impairment in children. In this crosssectional retrospective study, we analyzed a social visual screening program for school children in Sã o Paulo, Brazil, evaluated its impact on the prevention and treatment of children's visual disabilities, and assessed its epidemiological outcomes to outline suggestions for its improvement. METHODS: First-grade children from public schools were submitted to prior visual screening by their teachers. Selected children were forwarded to the hospital's campaigns for a second screening by ophthalmologists and treatment if needed. Data were analyzed for age, sex, visual acuity, biomicroscopy, refractive errors, ocular movement disorders, amblyopia, number of donated spectacles, and number of children forwarded to specialized care. RESULTS: A total of 1080 children were included with mean age of 6.24 ± 0.45 years. Children with normal ophthalmological exam, 591 (54.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.7%-57.7%) were dismissed and considered false-positives. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism components were found in 164 (15.2%; CI: 13.1%-17.4%), 190 (17.6%; CI: 15.3%-20.0%), and 330 (30.5%; CI: 27.8%-33.4%) children, respectively. Amblyopia was diagnosed in 54 (5%; CI: 3.5%-6.4%) children, and 117 (10.8%; CI: 9.8%-12.8%) presented ocular movement disorders. A total of 420 glasses were donated. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological findings for amblyopia and refractive errors are consistent with those of similar studies. The expressive number of diagnoses performed and number of glasses donated to underprivileged children depict the importance of such projects. New guidelines to improve their cost-effectiveness, such as professional training and community sensitization, are imperative.

Identification of potential barriers for timely access to pediatric sibling eye check-up in a tertiary eye care hospital

“…Inadequate pediatric eye care services, the lack of visual screening programs for children, and unawareness about protocols and procedures at eye hospitals remain the major problems for parents to seek children eye treatment. [ 5 24 25 ] There is paucity of knowledge regarding barriers for sibling ophthalmic check-up in the literature.…”

“…[ 1 - 4 ] In the literature, various demographic, social barrier, financial, and recessionary pressures have been described for pre-school and school-going children absenteeism on referral at the base hospital. [ 5 - 7 ]…”

“…HCSB refers to early recognition of symptoms, timely presentation and urge to utilize pediatric eye facilities, and compliance to treatment and follow-up. [ 5 - 10 ] The eye care seeking behavior of parents for their children can help in reducing childhood vision impairment.…”

Worsening vision at age 4–5 in England post‐COVID: Evidence from a large database of vision screening data

“…Also before COVID, data from the UK Aston Eye Study found a prevalence of myopia of 9.4% (for 6-7 years of age), 11 which was higher than that found in Northern Ireland (1.9% at 6-7 years of age). 4 Costa et al 12 screened 1080 first-grade (mean age 6 years) children in Brazil and found the prevalence of significant myopia (15%) to be similar to that of hypermetropia (18%), and far more common than amblyopia (5%). In a North American population of 563 pre-kindergarten children (mean age 4.9 years), Guo et al 13 found myopia (≤−0.50 D) to be more prevalent than hypermetropia (≥+0.…”

“…Costa et al 12 screened 1080 first‐grade (mean age 6 years) children in Brazil and found the prevalence of significant myopia (15%) to be similar to that of hypermetropia (18%), and far more common than amblyopia (5%). In a North American population of 563 pre‐kindergarten children (mean age 4.9 years), Guo et al 13 found myopia (≤−0.50 D) to be more prevalent than hypermetropia (≥+0.50 D).…”