PURPOSE: To improve health services it is necessary to know the demand profile. This study was carried out with the objectives of: to identify the main reasons to seek an ophthalmologic primary care service; and to analyze the frequency of the principal diagnoses, according to gender and age groups, as well as the causes of referring patients. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study of 1,010 assisted patients during a period of 6 months. Parameters: age and sex of the patient, the […]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the profile of all the visits to the ophthalmic emergency service at a tertiary hospital in the city of Sobral, Ceará, northeast of Brazil. METHODS: A survey was carried out of all patients attended at ophthalmology emergency service of the department of ophthalmology of Santa Casa of Sobral, during the period between may and october 2008. Data on patient’s age, sex, level of education, residential address, health insurance status, average distance to our service, time between the […]

PURPOSE: To establish the prevalence of the ametropias and eye diseases, in the year 2001, within a preschool and school children in the city of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Transversal observational study during an ocular health campaign in public education schools. The children that have shown visual acuity lower than 0.8 or other abnormally were referred by trained volunteers to evaluation by ophthalmologists from the Benjamin Constant Institute. RESULTS: From the 1.800 children who were examined, […]

The ultrasound is an important method in the evaluation of abnormalities of the posterior segment of the eye. PURPOSE: To compare the advantages and disadvantages of 10 and 20 MHz probe on B- scanning ultra-sonography in evaluation of vitreous and posterior pole diseases, providing recommendations for their use. METHODS: Patients from Hospital das Clinicas of the University of São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), attended between February 2006 and April 2007, were submitted to ultrasound exams using CINE-Scan® (Quantel Medical Inc) B-scan with […]

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical, histopathological and immunoistochemical findings of ocular leishmaniasis in five patients presenting positive Montenegro reaction. METHODS: Retrospective study in four years of the clinical charts, histopathologic and immunoistochemic study of the material obtained by biopsy of ocular lesions in five patients with positive Montenegro reaction. RESULTS: The most frequent clinical findings was conjunctival hyperemia (2/5), followed by crusting lid lesion (1/5), conjunctival leukoplakia (1/5) and ocular itching (1/5). The histopathological study disclosed chronic inflammation (3/5) and […]

OBJECTIVE: During the last years amniotic membrane (AM) autograft has been frequently used for reconstruction of the ocular surface in many diseases. This study intends to analyze the major indications for AM as well the results of this procedure. METHODS: Data of 107 patients who had done AM autograft surgery were retrospectively analised regarding the indications and postoperatory follow-up. RESULTS: The indications for AM autograft was ptherygium 33.64% (n=36), persistent epithelial defect 29.90% (n=32), simblepharum 18.69% (n=20), chemical injury 6.54%(n=7), […]

The exposure to ultraviolet radiation is associated with the beginning of ocular pathologies like keratites, cataract, age-related macular degeneration and pterygium. This radiation is divided in 3 bands according to the wave length: Uv-A (320-400), Uv-B (290-320), Uv-C (100-290). The optic industry developed ultraviolet filters to intraocular lenses, contact lenses and spectacle lenses. PURPOSE: The issue of this work is to estimate the efficacy of ultraviolet contact lenses with high hydration. METHODS: Six types of high hydrated contact lenses from […]

PURPOSE: To estabilish the prevalence of the ametropias and eye diseases, in the year 2001, within a preschool and school population in Alto da Boa Vista favelas (slum), in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Transversal observational study during an ocular health campaign in public education schools. The children that have shown visual acuity fewer than 0.8 or abnormally were referred by trained volunteers to avaliation by ophthalmologists from the Benjamin Constant Institute. RESULTS: From the 1800 children […]