F G S Paschoalino
Child and Youth Institute - Public Health Program from the City of Juiz de Fora , PREV - Visual Reabilitation ans Stimulation Program, Juiz de Fora - MG, Brazil
Although undernotificated, low vision (LV) is nowadays a condition being recognized in an increasing number of patients. Knowing the causes accounting for its occurrence and the patients' profile are essential steps for preventing these diseases and to size up the necessary public assistance apparatus, which is currently deficient in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
Purpose: To analyze data from 80 low vision patients assisted at a pilot project created in 1995 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) concerning their demographic characteristics, low vision etiology and categories.
Methods: Records from 198 patients assisted from march 1995 to june 1998 was revised. One hundred and eighteen patients were below 2 years old and were children at risk for ocular disease, not necessarily low vision patients. Data from these patients was excluded. Data from 80 patients has been analyzed.
Results: Patients' ages ranged from 3,8 to 87,9 years, mean 34,5 ± 26,6 years. The largest groups aged up to 20 (45%) and above 60 (25%) years old. No significant difference was noted between males and females. Low education - unfinished "primeiro grau" (which in Brazil includes elementary and high school) in 61,3% of the sample - was a reality. The main etiologies were macular coriorretinitis due to toxoplasmosis (22,5%), congenital cataract (7,5%), adult glaucoma (6,3%), optic nerve atrophy, degenerative myopia, and retinitis pigmentosa (5% each). According to World Health Organization parameters 6,41% of patients had blindness, 62,82% had low vision and 30,77% had normal vision.
Conclusion: The results obtained agree with other studies conducted in Brazil, a developing country, where toxoplasmosis is an important cause of visual impairment.
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