Study of visual health applying a methodology of primary health care in Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

A prevalence survey of ocular diseases in the school population aged 5 to 14 years, in Antioquia, Colombia, was carried out. Methodologies of Primary Health Care were employed; the target population was first examined by previously trained school teachers. Suspicious cases were referred to optometrists and, If necessary, to ophthalmologists. A total of 336.354 children were studied; in the primary screening 52.153 were found to have refraction problems; of them 12.233 were confirmed by optometrists and 7.556 required and received eye-glasses for correction.