Impact of a mobile unit on access to eye care in São Paulo, Brazil.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the impact of a mobile eye health unit on access to eye care and to generate a profile of the population requiring ophthalmic care by age, nature of their ophthalmic diseases, and optimal management. METHODS: The study was conducted in 14 cities in the southwest region of São Paulo, Brazil. Subjects included individuals who participate in the Brazilian Unified Health System who were in need of eye care. There were no restrictions on age, gender or socioeconomic status. Data was transferred to an Excel table for statistical analyses. RESULTS: We evaluated 6,878 participants in this survey with mean age of 44 years (range 4 months to 96 years); 65.5% were female. Among the diagnoses, 78.6% presented with refractive errors, 9.6% presented with cataracts and 8.3% presented with pterygium. New corrective lenses were prescribed for 60.9% of the participants; 10% retained their existing lenses, ~28% required counseling only and18.1% of the participants were referred to a tertiary facility for specialized exams and/or surgical procedures. Of the participants who required outside referrals, 36.4% required oculoplastic/external eye surgery and 31.8% required cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of patients presenting to a mobile eye health unit required prescriptions for corrective lenses. The rate of detection of ocular disorders was relatively high and the mobile unit provided effective treatment of refractive errors and referrals for specialized ophthalmic examinations and procedures. A mobile eye health unit can be an effective alternative method for improving access to basic eye care, for promoting eye health education and preventing blindness.

Topical cyclosporine A 0. 05% before and after surgery to prevent pterygium recurrence / Ciclosporina A 0, 05% antes e após a cirurgia do pterígio para a prevenção da recorrência

ABSTRACT Purpose: We evaluated the role of the conjunctival flap rotation technique using 5-fluorouracil and adjuvant therapy with topical cyclosporine A at 0.05% during short pre- and postoperative periods for the prevention of primary pterygium recurrence. Methods: In this prospective study, 76 patients with primary pterygium (76 eyes) were categorized into two groups: the control group with 31 patients who did not receive cyclosporine treatment, and the cyclosporine group with 45 patients who received topical cyclosporine A (0.05%) twice a day, for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium excision operations. Patients were examined for disease recurrence, side effects, and complications at 10 and 21 days, and at 2 and 6 months after the operation. Data on demography, systemic diseases, and ophthalmologic histories were obtained from all patients, and these data were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving the absolute and relative percentages of frequency distribution. Goodman test was used for contrasts among multinomial populations to study the association between cyclosporine A and recurrence. Results: Most patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and 67.1% were women. We confirmed a higher recurrence in patients with occupational sunlight exposure. The cyclosporine A used topically 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal did not significantly reduce the recurrence of the pterygium. Conclusion: Topical 0.05% cyclosporine A when used for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal does not prevent or reduce the recurrence of primary pterygium.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliamos os resultados da técnica de rotação de retalho conjuntival com uso de 5-fluorouracil e terapia adjuvante com ciclosporina A tópica a 0,05%, usada no pré e pós-operatório por curto período, quanto à prevenção da recidiva do pterígio primário Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, com 76 pacientes portadores de pterígio primário (76 olhos), divididos em dois grupos: controle com 31 pacientes que não receberam tratamento com ciclosporina e grupo ciclosporina com 45 pacientes que receberam ciclosporina tópica A (0,05%) duas vezes ao dia, por 10 dias antes e 10 dias após a cirurgia de excisão do pterígio. Os pacientes foram avaliados quanto à recorrência, efeitos colaterais e complicações com 10, 21 dias, 2 e 6 meses de pós-operatório. Dados demográficos, doenças sistêmicas e histórico oftalmológico foram coletados de todos os pacientes e esses dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva envolvendo o percentual absoluto e relativo de distribuição de frequência. O teste de Goodman para contrastes entre populações multinomiais foi utilizado para o estudo da associação entre a ciclosporina A e a recorrência Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes tinha entre 30 e 60 anos e 67,1% eram mulheres. Confirmamos uma maior recorrência em pacientes com exposição ocupacional ao sol. A ciclosporina A tópica utilizada 10 dias antes e 10 dias após a remoção do pterígio não reduziu significativamente a sua recorrência Conclusão: A ciclosporina A tópica a 0,05% quando utilizada por 10 dias no pré e 10 dias no pós-operatório, não previne ou reduz a recidiva do pterígio primário significativamente.

Topical cyclosporine A 0.05% before and after surgery to prevent pterygium recurrence.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the role of the conjunctival flap rotation technique using 5-fluorouracil and adjuvant therapy with topical cyclosporine A at 0.05% during short pre- and postoperative periods for the prevention of primary pterygium recurrence. METHODS: In this prospective study, 76 patients with primary pterygium (76 eyes) were categorized into two groups: the control group with 31 patients who did not receive cyclosporine treatment, and the cyclosporine group with 45 patients who received topical cyclosporine A (0.05%) twice a day, for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium excision operations. Patients were examined for disease recurrence, side effects, and complications at 10 and 21 days, and at 2 and 6 months after the operation. Data on demography, systemic diseases, and ophthalmologic histories were obtained from all patients, and these data were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving the absolute and relative percentages of frequency distribution. Goodman test was used for contrasts among multinomial populations to study the association between cyclosporine A and recurrence. RESULTS: Most patients were between 30 and 60 years of age, and 67.1% were women. We confirmed a higher recurrence in patients with occupational sunlight exposure. The cyclosporine A used topically 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal did not significantly reduce the recurrence of the pterygium. CONCLUSION: Topical 0.05% cyclosporine A when used for 10 days before and 10 days after the pterygium removal does not prevent or reduce the recurrence of primary pterygium.

Calázio e características demográficas dos portadores em uma amostra populacional / Chalazion and demographic characteristics of patients in a population sample

Objetivo: Apresentar a frequência de ocorrência do calázio em uma amostra populacional, assim como as características de seus portadores. Métodos: Estudo transversal utilizando amostra populacional aleatorizada, realizado nos anos 2004/2005, na região centro-oeste do estado de São Paulo. Os participantes foram avaliados segundo variáveis demográficas e exame oftalmológico. Resultados: A frequência de ocorrência do calázio foi de 1,56%, sendo mais frequente em mulheres, portadores de astigmatismo ou hipermetropia de pequenos graus, com grande variação de idade de acometimento. Foi necessária prescrição de correção óptica e cirurgia em número expressivo de casos. Conclusão: O calázio tem baixa frequência de ocorrência na população geral. Ocorre predominantemente em mulheres e há associação importante com ametropia.

Purpose: To show the frequency of occurrence of chalazion in a population sample, as well as the characteristics of patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study using randomized population sample was carried out during 2004/2005, in the Midwest region of the state of São Paulo. Participants were evaluated according to demographic variables and ocular examination. Results: The frequency of occurrence of chalazion was 1.56‰, more common in women, people with astigmatism or low hyperopia, with wide variation in age of onset. It was necessary to prescribe optical correction and surgery in a significant number of cases. Conclusion: The chalazion has low frequency of occurrence in the general population. It occurs predominantly in women and there is a significant association with refractive error.

[Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma requiring orbital exenteration: case report]. / Carcinoma espinocelular de conjuntiva com evolução para exenteração: relato de caso.

A case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva is presented. The lesion was removed with recurrence in another conjunctival site. The patient received cycles of 5-Fluorouracil as adjuvant treatment to the surgical removal and presented unfavorable evolution, requiring orbital exenteration. Comments are made on the use of antimitotic drugs in the management of these lesions.

Carcinoma espinocelular de conjuntiva com evolução para exenteração: relato de caso / Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma requiring orbital exenteration: case report

Portador de carcinoma espinocelular da conjuntiva teve a lesão removida, com recorrência em outra localização. O paciente recebeu ciclos de 5-Fluoruracila como tratamento adjuvante à remoção cirúrgica, apresentando evolução desfavorável que chegou à exenteração orbitária. São feitos comentários quanto ao uso de antimitóticos no tratamento destas lesões.

A case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva is presented. The lesion was removed with recurrence in another conjunctival site. The patient received cycles of 5-Fluorouracil as adjuvant treatment to the surgical removal and presented unfavorable evolution, requiring orbital exenteration. Comments are made on the use of antimitotic drugs in the management of these lesions.