Epidemiologic study of anisometropia in students of Natal, Brazil.
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.
Garcia
Carlos Alexandre de Amorim
CA
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
Dantas
Erymar de Araújo
Ede A
Souza
Araken Britto de
AB
Uchoa
Raquel Araújo Costa
RA
Oréfice
Fernando
F
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