A 15-Year Review of Corneal Transplant in Brazil.

PURPOSE: To analyze 15-year of corneal transplant in Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional, retrospective, observational, and analytical study, between available data from the Brazilian Transplant Registry (January 2002-December 2016), collected by the Brazilian Association of Organ Transplantation was performed. The variables analyzed per year were number of corneal transplants, corneal transplants per million people (pmp), corneal transplant teams, and individuals on the waiting list for corneal transplants. Quantitative variables were expressed by their respective values. To verify the relationship of time with the variables, the Spearman correlation test was applied, adopting P<0.05 for rejection of the null hypothesis. RESULTS: Evaluation of the data from 2002 to 2016 revealed an increase in number of (1) corneal transplants (4,976-14,534-approximately 292% in 15 years; P<0.0001); (2) corneal transplants pmp (29.4-71.1 pmp; P<0.0001); (3) productivity of corneal transplants teams (40.1-79 transplants by each team per year; P=0.067); (4) effectiveness in meeting the Brazilian population demand for corneal transplants per year (18.2%-57.0%; P<0.0001); (5) potential donors (P<0.0001), effective donors (P<0.0001), and nondonors (P<0.0001). There was a reduction in the number of patients on the waiting list (19,189-10,923; P=0.056). CONCLUSION: Despite the progress in the last decade, the number of corneal transplants in Brazil cannot meet the growing population demand. Thus, this study suggests the implementation of more effective public policies of corneal transplants in Brazil, to minimize disparities in national territory, adequately meet the population demand, and reduce the time in waiting lists for corneal transplants.

Corneal involvement in systemic inflammatory diseases.

Corneal involvement in patients with systemic inflammatory disorders may be sight threatening, and it may be associated with a life-threatening disease. Significant systemic inflammatory diseases in this context are autoimmune connective tissue diseases, systemic autoimmune dermatological disorders, and autoimmune diseases of the lacrimal system. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is usually the most common ocular finding in these patients. Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is a rare condition usually associated with increased ocular morbidity and also mortality, as it might act as an indicator of a more widespread vasculitis. Corneal biomechanical properties may also be altered in connective tissue diseases. Although recent studies suggest that the risk for corneal complications after ocular surgery in patients with quiescent autoimmune disease is minimal, caution is still recommended, as the knowledge about the corneal wound-healing process and the corneal biomechanical properties in these patients is not yet fully understood. This article reviews corneal abnormalities and characteristics in the setting of systemic inflammatory diseases.

Influence of lighting on visual performance.

PURPOSE: This review emphasizes the effect of light on visual efficiency, the impact of different lighting focuses, types of lighting, and their influence on vision and productivity. Light sources and standards are intriguing subjects for ophthalmologists. Guidelines regarding the level of lighting influence on visual activities can enhance visual performance.Methods: This article was developed based on literature reviews, with a bibliographic survey conducted in databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO. RESULTS: Provides recommendations for understanding information regarding the influence of lighting on visual performance. CONCLUSION: Proper workplace lighting is crucial for improving visual efficiency, safety, productivity, and worker health. Efficient workplace lighting should avoid light sources directed towards the worker's face, prevent harmful glare, be more intense in the work area, and uniform in the rest of the room. Ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable about and provide guidance on correct lighting to ensure patient comfort and satisfaction with visual correction.

The effects of chronic exposure to traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical relevance of chronic exposure to ambient levels of traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface. METHODS: A panel study involving 55 volunteers was carried out in São Paulo, Brazil. We measured the mean individual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure for 7 days. All subjects answered the Ocular Symptom Disease Index (OSDI) and a symptoms inventory. Subsequently, subjects underwent Schirmer I test, biomicroscopy, vital staining and tear breakup time (TBUT) assessment. Subject's mean daily exposure to NO(2) was categorized in quartiles. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD and Chi-Square tests. RESULTS: A dose-response pattern was detected between OSDI scores and NO(2) quartiles (p<0.05). There was a significant association between NO(2) quartiles and reported ocular irritation (Chi(2)=9.2, p<0.05) and a significant negative association between TBUT and NO(2) exposure (p<0.05, R=-0.316, Spearman's correlation). There was a significant increase in the frequency of meibomitis in subjects exposed to higher levels of NO(2) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects exposed to higher levels of traffic derived air pollution reported more ocular discomfort symptoms and presented greater tear film instability, suggesting that the ocular discomfort symptoms and tear breakup time could be used as convenient bioindicators of the adverse health effects of traffic derived air pollution exposure.

Early keratocyte apoptosis after epithelial scrape injury in the human cornea.

Animal studies in mice, rats, rabbits, pigs and hens demonstrated that anterior keratocytes undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis after corneal epithelial injury. Many other wound healing changes subsequently follow the keratocyte apoptosis response. This study evaluated early keratocyte apoptosis after corneal epithelial scrape injury in human eyes scheduled for enucleation for malignancy. Two eyes had corneal epithelial scrape 1 h prior to the enucleation and another eye served as a control and had no corneal scrape prior to enucleation. One additional eye was enucleated, washed with balanced salt solution, and then had the corneal epithelium scraped 1 h prior to processing for analysis. Apoptosis was identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Anterior keratocyte apoptosis was detected in the three corneas that had epithelial scrape injury, but not in the control unwounded cornea. This study confirmed that keratocyte apoptosis is also an early response to corneal epithelial injury in humans and showed that tears are not essential for keratocyte apoptosis to occur in response to epithelial injury.

Influence of lighting on visual performance

ABSTRACT Purpose: This review emphasizes the effect of light on visual efficiency, the impact of different lighting focuses, types of lighting, and their influence on vision and productivity. Light sources and standards are intriguing subjects for ophthalmologists. Guidelines regarding the level of lighting influence on visual activities can enhance visual performance.Methods: This article was developed based on literature reviews, with a bibliographic survey conducted in databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO. Results: Provides recommendations for understanding information regarding the influence of lighting on visual performance. Conclusion: Proper workplace lighting is crucial for improving visual efficiency, safety, productivity, and worker health. Efficient workplace lighting should avoid light sources directed towards the worker's face, prevent harmful glare, be more intense in the work area, and uniform in the rest of the room. Ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable about and provide guidance on correct lighting to ensure patient comfort and satisfaction with visual correction.

Photorefractive keratectomy and butterfly laser epithelial keratomileusis: a prospective, contralateral study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate results of two surface excimer laser refractive surgery techniques--photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and butterfly laser epithelial keratomileusis (butterfly LASEK). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-masked study of 51 patients (102 eyes) who underwent laser refractive surgery. One eye of each patient was randomized to be operated with PRK and the fellow eye with butterfly LASEK. Patients were followed for 1 year. RESULTS: No significant difference between groups for distance uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) (P = .559) was noted. At 1 year, 98% (50 eyes) in the PRK group and 96.1% (49 eyes) in the butterfly LASEK group reached UCVA of 20/20. Predictability, efficacy, safety, and stability were not statistically significant between groups. Safety index was 1.0 for PRK and 0.996 for butterfly LASEK. One eye in the butterfly LASEK group lost one line of best-spectacle corrected visual acuity. At 12 months, 94.1% (48 eyes) and 86.3% (44 eyes) in the PRK and butterfly LASEK groups (P = .188), respectively, had a spherical equivalent refraction of +/- 0.50 diopters. Slight haze was observed in both groups. A statistical difference in haze between the groups was observed only in the first postoperative month, with higher intensity in the butterfly LASEK group (0.18 +/- 0.39) compared to the PRK group (0.08+/- 0.21) (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Butterfly LASEK had similar predictability, efficacy, safety, stability, and haze incidence to PRK for the treatment of low to moderate myopia. However, on the second postoperative day, PRK showed better UCVA than butterfly LASEK.

Customized topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy with the MEL-70 platform and mitomycin C to correct hyperopia after radial keratotomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correcting hyperopia and astigmatism after radial keratotomy (RK). METHODS: Prospective study of 12 consecutive patients (19 eyes) who were treated with topography-guided PRK with 0.02% mitomycin C using an Asclepion-Meditec MEL-70 excimer laser with a 9.5-mm ablation zone. All eyes were operated by the same surgeon and followed for 1 year. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes had complete epithelialization by day 7 and all eyes by day 10. At 1 year, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/25 or better in 42.1% of eyes and 20/40 or better in 68.4%. Preoperative mean spherical equivalent refraction was +3.80+/-2.47 diopters (D) and +0.24+/-2.36 D (P<.001) 1 year postoperative, with 47.4% of eyes being within +/-1.00 D and 73.7% within +/-2.00 D. Preoperative mean cylinder was -2.30+/-1.41 D and -0.62+/-0.73 D (P<.001) 1 year postoperative. At 1 year, 68.4% of eyes gained at least 1 line of best-spectacle corrected visual acuity, 36.8% gained more than 1 line, and only 2 eyes lost 1 line (one due to corneal haze). Three eyes developed central haze. Mean regression from 6 to 12 months in these 3 eyes was +1.83 D and in the remaining 16 eyes was -0.50 D. CONCLUSIONS: Topography-guided PRK with mitomycin C was safe and reasonably effective for the treatment of hyperopia after RK.

[Visual performance in myopic correction with spectacles and soft contact lenses]. / Desempenho visual na correção de miopia com óculos e lentes de contato gelatinosas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual performance by high contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and wavefront in myopic patients with or without astigmatism corrected with spectacles and with three different soft contact lenses [Acuvue 2 (Vistacon J&J Vision Care Inc., USA), Biomedics 55 (Ocular Science, USA), and Focus 1-2 week (Ciba Vision Corporation, USA)]. METHODS: An interventional prospective clinical trial studied a sample of 40 myopic patients (-1.00 to -4.50 sph, with or without astigmatism up to -0.75 cyl). Each patient had one eye randomized to visual performance evaluation. RESULTS: The Zywave aberrometer detected a over refraction and significant difference between Acuvue 2 and Biomedics 55 regarding spheric refractive components and spheric equivalent. Both soft contact lenses showed hypercorrection as compared to Focus 1-2 week. Visual performance was not significantly different with spectacles and the three soft contact lenses in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements. The wavefront analysis detected a significant difference in a third order aberration with and without soft contact lenses, with better visual performance with Acuvue 2 and Biomedics 55. CONCLUSION: In visual performance evaluation with spectacles and soft contact lenses the wavefront analysis was a more sensible measurement of visual function when compared to high contrast visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The evaluation model of visual performance with wavefront analysis developed in this investigation may be useful for further similar studies.

[Corneal allograft rejection: topical treatment vs. pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone - ten years' result]. / Rejeição de transplantes de córnea: tratamento tópico vs. pulsoterapia - resultados de 10 anos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous 500 mg methylprednisolone in addition to topical treatment with 1% prednisolone in the treatment of the first episode of corneal endothelial rejection in patients that were submitted to corneal allograft transplantation. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study with 81 patients that presented the first episode of corneal endothelial rejection and were treated within the first 15 days of the onset of symptoms. RESULTS: 67 patients were treated with 1% topical prednisolone acetate and pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone 500 mg at the diagnosis of corneal allograft rejection. Fourteen patients were submitted to topical treatment only, thus forming the control group. Forty-one of 67 patients (61.2%) that were submitted to pulsed steroid had good outcome and 26 (38.8%) presented corneal graft failure while only 4 of 14 patients (28.57%) that received only topical steroids evolved with clear grafts and the remaining 10 patients (71.43%) with graft failure. Chi-square showed statistically significant association (p<0.05) to greater success with pulsed methylprednisolone. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the use of 500 mg intravenous methylprednisolone in addition to 1% topical prednisolone acetate for the treatment of endothelial corneal allograft rejection presents better outcomes in reverting corneal allograft rejection when compared to isolated use of 1% topical prednisolone acetate.

Development of an aspheric 22-diopter 50-mm diameter magnifier.

PURPOSE: To develop in an interdisciplinary approach between ophthalmology and design areas an ergonomic +22-diopter 50-mm aspheric hand magnifier for low vision. METHODS: An aluminum cylinder was cut, processed using a lathe and carved to produce a ring that accommodated a 50-mm aspheric lens, with an external depression not to slide from the holder's fingers. A cylindrical steel bar was cut, processed using a lathe and carved in order to form an externally turned ring to be screwed into the internal thread of the aluminum ring, to maintain the lens in a steady position. Both rings were submitted to electrostatic painting with a dull black electrostatic Epoxi ink, except the lower border of the external ring, to indicate the correct side of the magnifier to face the material to be read. RESULTS: A 22-diopter 50-mm diameter aspheric lens magnifier with a black ring to be hold at its external circular depression was obtained in order to safely search the adequate reading focus with an inferior aluminum colored ring to face the object to be read and allow a less distorted reading. This is the first Brazilian high-magnification great-diameter magnifier for low vision that permits basically the focusing on an entire word, not only syllables, in order to allow a faster and more comfortable reading. CONCLUSIONS: By an interdisciplinary approach a 22-diopter 50-mm aspheric lens magnifier was developed with image and ergonomic characteristics such as to permit comfortable and adequate reading performance in cases of low vision.

Ambient levels of air pollution induce goblet-cell hyperplasia in human conjunctival epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Ocular mucosa is exposed constantly to the external environment, and chronic exposure to air pollution may affect the ocular surface. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effect of air pollution on the ocular surface by combining determinations of individual exposure and conjunctival impression cytology. METHODS: A panel study was conducted with 29 volunteers recruited in two locations with different pollution levels: São Paulo (n = 13) and Divinolândia (n = 16). We assessed mean individual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure for 7 days, using a passive sampler. Impression cytology samples were obtained from inferior tarsal conjunctiva. Comparisons between the two groups in terms of NO2 exposure and goblet-cell counts were performed using the Student t-test. Correlations between goblet-cells counts and corresponding individual NO2 exposure levels were determined using Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: Individuals living in São Paulo received a significantly (p = 0.005) higher dose of NO2 (mean 32.47; SD 9.83) than those living in Divinolândia (mean 19.33; SD 5.24). There was a steady increase in goblet-cell counts, proportional to NO2 exposure (Spearman's correlation = 0.566, p = 0.001), with a dose-response pattern. CONCLUSIONS: A positive and significant association between exposure to air pollution and goblet-cell hyperplasia in human conjunctiva was detected. The combination of simple measurements of exposure and impression cytology was an effective and noninvasive approach for characterizing human response to ambient levels of air pollution.

Influence of final corneal thickness in visual acuity after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To determine if the final corneal thickness after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) is correlated in any way with visual performance. METHODS: One hundred fifty-five consecutive eyes without macular disease underwent DLEK surgery and had pachymetry recorded at 6 months postoperatively. The eyes were grouped according to visual acuity, and pachymetry was correlated between groups: group 1 (20/20, 20/25, or 20/30), n = 38; group 2 (20/40 or 20/50), n = 79; group 3 (20/60, 20/70, or 20/80), n = 30; group 4 (20/100 or worse), n = 8. RESULTS: The mean pachymetry, SD, and range of pachymetry for each group are as follows: group 1, 0.571 +/- 0.080 mm (range, 0.408-0.784 mm); group 2, 0.598 +/- 0.080 mm (range, 0.437-0.816 mm); group 3, 0.605 +/- 0.099 mm (range, 0.454-0.945 mm); group 4, 0.607 +/- 0.120 mm (range, 0.410-0.781 mm). There was no significant correlation between vision and corneal thickness (P = 0.312). There was no statistical difference in pachymetry among all 4 groups (P = 0.323). The influence of pachymetry in visual acuity is not relevant (r = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The variance in corneal thickness in DLEK does not seem to influence visual results.

Causes of visual impairment in children: a study of 3,210 cases.

PURPOSE: To determine causes of visual impairment in children at the Low Vision Service of the Ophthalmic Clinic at the University of São Paulo and at the Brazilian Association for the Visually Impaired People (Laramara), located in São Paulo, Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 3,210 visually impaired children (49% female, 51% male; average age, 5.9 years). Visual impairment was present in 57% (visually impaired group) and 43% presented another associated disability (multiple disability group). RESULTS: The main causes of visual impairment in the visually impaired group were toxoplasmic macular retinochoroiditis (20.7%), retinal dystrophies (12.2%), retinopathy of prematurity (11.8%), ocular malformation (11.6%), congenital glaucoma (10.8%), optic atrophy (9.7%), and congenital cataracts (7.1%). The main causes of visual impairment in the multiple disability group were optic atrophy (37.7%), cortical visual impairment (19.7%), toxoplasmic macular retinochoroiditis (8.6%), retinopathy of prematurity (7.6%), ocular malformation (6.8%), congenital cataracts (6.1%), and degenerative disorders of the retina and macula (4.8%). The retina was the most frequently affected anatomic site in the visually impaired group (49.2%) and the optic nerve in the multiple disability group (39%). CONCLUSION: Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts for childhood blindness and visual rehabilitation must be considered in Latin America.

Endoscopic study of the intranasal ostium in external dacryocystorhinostomy postoperative. Influence of saline solution and 5-fluorouracil.

PURPOSE: To study, through endoscopy, the postoperative structural changes of the intranasal ostium following external dacryocystorhinostomy and to evaluate the influence of saline solution and 5-fluorouracil. METHODS: Fifty patients were distributed into the following groups: Group SS-dacryocystorhinostomy and an injection of saline solution during surgery (13 patients); Group 5--FU1-dacryocystorhinostomy and an injection of 5 fluorouracil during surgery (17 patients); Group C--dacryocystorhinostomy only (11 patients); Group 5--FU3-dacryocystorhinostomy and 3 injections, 1 during surgery and 1 on the third and fifth postsurgical days (9 patients). RESULTS: Pair-wise group comparisons using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test revealed that there was a significant reduction of the ostium area only in Group 5-FU1 vs. Group SS on the 60th postoperative day (P <.01); however, a comparative study among the 4 groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant changes in the ostium area on the 60th postoperative day. The ostium area within groups at the 30th vs 60th postoperative day was significantly reduced for Group C (P < .05; Mann-Whitney test); no significant changes were found for the other groups. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the use of 5-fluorouracil in external dacryocystorhinostomy does not significantly influence the final size of the surgical fistula as determined 2 months postsurgery.

Patterns of detection and optical correction among ophthalmologists.

OBJECTIVE: To verify age of first ophthalmic evaluation and optical prescription along with present optical correction among ophthalmologists of different age groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a nonprobabilistic sample (n = 578) of ophthalmologists and resident physicians using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The first ophthalmologic exam was undergone before age 7 for 33.3% of the ophthalmologists aged between 23 and 30 years, for 25.8% of those aged from 31 to 42 , and for 15.8% of those aged from 43 to 76 years (P < 0.0005). The first ophthalmologic exam was undergone at 8 to 22 years of age for 60.7% of the ophthalmologists aged between 23 and 30, for 54.9% of those aged between 31 and 42, and for 47.4% of those aged from 43 to 76 years of age. Use of the first optical prescription (eyeglasses) between 0 and 7 years was reported by 10.0%, from 8 to 20 years of age by 59.6%, from 21 to 40 years by 18.1%, and 41 years or older by 12.3% . Present use of optical correction was reported by 69.0%. Concerning type of corrective device chosen, 63.7% wore only eyeglasses, 29.8% wore eyeglasses and contact lenses, and 6.5% wore contact lenses only. CONCLUSION: Among the sample of opthalmologists, the first ophthalmic evaluation and corresponding optical correction usually occurred relatively late (8 to 20 years of age). However, in the younger group of ophthalmologists, there was a highly significant increase in the number of subjects who had undergone an ophthalmologic exam before age 7. Eyeglasses were reported as the correction of choice by those in all age groups.

[Visual stability in diabetic retinopathy treated by panretinal laser photocoagulation]. / Estabilidade visual na retinopatia diabética tratada por panfotocoagulação com laser.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser treatment in the visual acuity caused by advanced diabetic retinopathy without visual complaints. METHODS: A descriptive observational study was developed in advanced diabetic retinopathy patients not presenting visual complaints. The patients were submitted to argon laser panretinal photocoagulation after ophthalmological examination as well as retinography and retinal angiofluoresceinography. The same initial exams were repeated between third and fifth months after the treatment. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was employed for statistical evaluation between the visual acuities before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The sample involved 67 eyes of 44 patients. Of these 67 eyes, 37 (55.2%) presented proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 30 (44.8%) showed severe and severe non proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The visual acuity before the treatment ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 (mean 0.81 +/- 0.16). There was no significant statistical difference between the visual acuity (p= 0.057) before and after the treatment during the follow-up period of five months. CONCLUSION: The visual stability after panretinal argon laser photocoagulation indicated the need of this treatment in early phases of diabetic retinopathy in order to preserve the visual function.

[Delay in ophthalmologic examination of diabetic retinopathy patients]. / Avaliação oftalmológica tardia em portadores de retinopatia diabética.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the delay in the ophthalmic examination of patients affected with severe diabetic retinopathy but no visual complaint. METHODS: A transversal analytical study was conducted of 44 visually asymptomatic diabetic patients. All were eligible to retinal panphotocoagulation in at least one eye. Duration and type of the disease as well as time of the first ophthalmic examination were established. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, 6 (13.7%) had diabetes type 1 and 38 (86.3%) had diabetes type 2. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy was present in 24 (54.5%) and severe or very severe non proliferative retinopathy was present in 20 (45.5%). Best visual acuity ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 (mean 0.83+/-0.17) according to the Snellen chart. The time interval between diagnosis of diabetes and the first ophthalmic examination ranged from 7 to 19.5 years (13.2+/-5.12) for diabetes type 1 and from 3 months to 18 years (5.2+/-4.81) for diabetes type 2. CONCLUSION: Advanced diabetic retinopathy may be detected at different times of the ophthalmic examination in both types of diabetes. Although the mean interval between the diagnosis and the first examination is 13 years for diabetes type 1 and 5 years for diabetes type 2, this severe kind of retinopathy occurred as early as three months after diagnosis of diabetes. This points to the need for an earlier ophthalmic examination in the case of this disease.

Assessment of visual health campaign activities at schools: teachers' perception.

PURPOSE: 1) To assess the opinion of teachers involved in visual screening of school-age children and their referral to ophthalmologic examination within the "Eye-to-Eye National Campaign for Visual Disorders Prevention and Rehabilitation" (Campanha Nacional de Prevenção e Reabilitação Visual Olho no Olho); 2) To identify the teachers' perception with respect to the training received for conducting the campaign. METHODS: A descriptive study has been conducted, based on data recorded from the application of a questionnaire to 1,517 elementary school teachers working in public schools in 27 Brazilian states. The following items were examined: received orientation, use of educational videos and handbooks, supplied explanations, difficulties, questions and overall campaign assessment. RESULTS: 82.0% of the teachers stated they had received orientation and 92.0% stated they had read the "Teacher Orientation Manual". Among those who received orientation, 47.0% stated it had been supplied by school officials; 30.0%, by healthcare agents, and 23.0% by ophthalmologists. In the self-assessment of performance, 58.0% reported no difficulties; 32.0% reported questions concerning the campaign activities and the professionals who most frequently asked to provide clarification were those from the State Education Agency (38.0%), followed by the school director (20.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Most teachers considered themselves adequately trained and oriented to take part in the campaign. Teachers' training was provided by administrative officials, previously trained by ophthalmologists ("multiplying effect") and the small percentage of questions raised indicated the validity of the procedure. Concerns have been raised as to the information about the ophthalmologic examination, transportation of the children and delivery of glasses. This kind of program always presents some difficulties and requires adjustments. It should, indeed, be improved, perhaps through a closer involvement of the community and families during its development.

[Evaluation of macular perimetry in patients with age-related macular degeneration using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope]. / Avaliação da perimetria macular em pacientes com degeneração macular relacionada à idade por meio do oftalmoscópio de rastreamento a laser.

PURPOSES: To evaluate the correlation between anatomical changes (hard druses, soft druses, hyperpigmentation, new vessels, detachment of retinal pigment epithelium, hypopigmentation and chorioretinal atrophy) and light sensitivity in patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD); analyze macular sensitivity in areas with no anatomical lesions in patients with ARMD and compared them to the control group in order to detect if there was any functional lesion in areas with no anatomical changes. METHODS: A cross-sectional, comparative, descriptive and analytic study was performed. The case group consisted of 31 subjects with ARMD aged between 51 and 88 years. The control group consisted of 31 "healthy" subjects, without ARMD aged between 61 and 80 years. The groups were matched for gender and age. We performed static macular perimetry, red-red, using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). Results of macular perimetry were correlated with the anatomic lesion identified in the same site by infrared laser and color photographs. RESULTS: Areas with new vessels or atrophy showed a significantly different sensitivity in relation to areas without anatomical lesions in patients with ARMD. There was significant functional loss in areas with no anatomical lesions in patients with ARMD in relation to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Areas with new vessels or atrophy could be distinct factors for worsening of the localized macular sensitivity. There might be functional loss even in areas with no apparent anatomical changes in ARMD patients.