[One month in an eye emergency clinic in Brasilia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate all the visits to the ophthalmic emergency service in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, through a 1-month period.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was carried out of all patients attending the ophthalmology emergency department of the "Hospital de Base de Brasília" during September 1 to 30, 2003.


RESULTS
Mean age was 32.9+/-18.0 years (ranging from zero to 90). Seventy per cent of patients were of the working age category (from 20 to 59 years-old). Sixty-two per cent of the patients were male (n=1,777) and 38% female (n=1,067). Seventeen per cent of the patients lived in another state, and 83% lived in the Distrito Federal itself. In 3% of the charts, no address was informed. In the group of patients residents of the Distrito Federal, 84% lived at least 30 km away from the "Hospital de Base". Ocular traumas of any nature were the most frequent occurrence (n=730/30%), followed by conjunctivitis (n=568/24%). Doctors have not filled out 457 charts (16%).


CONCLUSIONS
The ophthalmic emergency service of the "Hospital de Base" de Brasília is not properly located. The great majority of patients presented with common pathologies, emphasizing the need for a primary care system. This aspects plus the lack of information in a great number of charts suggests that the ophthalmic public health system in the "Distrito Federal" requires changes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014600:Utilization Review
Um mês em um pronto-socorro de oftalmologia em Brasília.