title: Epidemiologic study of anisometropia in students of Natal, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform an epidemiologic study in students in Natal/Brazil, with relation to refractional anisometropia, evaluating criteria such as: gender, age, and association with strabismus and amblyopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study of 1,024 students randomly selected from several districts of Natal/Brazil was undertaken by the Department of Ophthalmology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), observing the following criteria of > or =2 spherical or cylindrical diopter refractional anisometropia relating it to sex, age, association with strabismus, amblyopia and anisometropia classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a prevalence of 2% (N=21) anisometropia in the students. The female gender predominated with 81% (N=17). In students with anisometropia, we observed an association with strabismus in 9.5% of cases (N=2), both with exotropia. The association of anisometropia with amblyopia occurred in 47.6% of the cases (N=10), with 8 cases of unilateral amblyopia and 2 cases of bilateral amblyopia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a predominance of anisometropia in females, and an increased prevalence of strabismus and amblyopia in students with anisometropia.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Service, Onofre Lopes University Hospital (HUOL), Department of Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grade do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil. prontoc.de.olhos@digi.com.br
authors.forename: Carlos Alexandre de Amorim
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Erymar de Araújo
authors.initials: Ede A
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: Araken Britto de
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Raquel Araújo Costa
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Uchoa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oréfice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015858:Anisometropia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013285:Strabismus / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students