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Avaliação da acuidade visual em escolares no município de Herval d’Oeste, Santa Catarina, Brasil

2013; Volume: 8; Issue: 28 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5712/rbmfc8(28)544

2179-7994

Rafaela Santini de Oliveira, Alisson Vinicius Parizotto, Mariane Fahrerr Caleffi, Caroline Beal, William Shi Seng Yeh, Maria do Carmo Vicensi,

Environmental Sustainability and Education

Objectives: To evaluate visual acuity through the application of a screening test; identify the prevalence of low vision; and provide proper management to it. Methods: A cross-sectional and quantitative study in which first-to-fifth grade students of two elementary schools in the municipality of Herval d'Oeste were evaluated in the second half of 2011, by means of a questionnaire with the following variables: gender, age, previous use of glasses, perception of their own vision, and application of the Snellen Test to assess visual acuity (VA). Students presenting VA<0.7 and signs and symptoms of ocular disorders were referred to an ophthalmologist. Results: The sample comprised 318 students: 158 (49.6%) males and 160 (50.3%) females, between 5 and 15 years old. Thirty of these students showed low visual acuity and were referred to eye care, and 24 children attended ophthalmic examinations - 19 (79.16%) needed optical correction. The most prevalent diagnoses were astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia. Conclusion: The detection of low vision among schoolchildren through screening tests is an important task of health promotion and an effective strategy to prevent visual disorders, which can interfere with intellectual, psychological and social development. The effective implementation of programs and actions to promote health through the integration of health, education and community should be considered.