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To test a model of integrated pediatric eye care delivery and examine the prevalence and factors associated with childhood ocular morbidity in a peri-urban setting in Bangladesh. Cross-sectional, population-based study. The study was conducted in three phases among children aged ≤15 years. Trained community health workers (CHWs) conducted awareness intervention and identified children with ocular problems. These children were then referred to the base hospital for examination and treatment by ophthalmologists. A pediatric ophthalmologist further examined the children with complicated eye diseases and ensured treatment at a tertiary public eye hospital. Awareness, referral patterns, and health-seeking behavior were also examined. All data were analyzed statistically using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. CHWs screened 33,549 eligible children and identified 1887 cases with ocular morbidity. The prevalence of ocular morbidity and childhood blindness were 5.63% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.27–6.16) and 0.060% (95% CI = 0.03–0.11), respectively. The most commonly observed ocular morbidities were refractive error (3.24%; 95% CI = 3.11–3.45), allergic eye conditions (1.2%; 95% = CI 0.74–1.27), and nasolacrimal duct obstruction (0.52%; 95% CI = 0.25–0.74). Blindness was more frequently seen in children aged <5 years than in those aged 5–15 years (χ2 = 7.25; P = 0.007). The causes of blindness were corneal opacity, congenital eye anomaly, cataract, retinopathy of prematurity, and retinoblastoma. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was higher among older children, boys, children with low parental education and income, and children from households dwelling in slums. This study demonstrated that in a setting where screening and treatment for vision problems remain low, ocular morbidity among children could be easily identified through well-designed community-based screening programs involving appropriately trained CHWs. Community mobilization, awareness, and early detection of childhood eye diseases, with effective referral mechanisms for accessing appropriate care, are crucially important to improve service delivery. • Trained community health workers conducted awareness interventions, identified and referred children with ocular problems. • Refractive error was the most common ocular morbidity. • Ocular morbidity was associated with older children and slum dwellers. • Gender inequalities existed in care seeking; fewer girls sought care from the referral hospital. • Community mobilization, early detection and effective referral are important for improving eye care service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye care is an important area of critical care. However, lack of eye care studies is a common issue across the globe. The aim of this study is to determine the views and practices of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses on eye care in Turkey and Palestine. This descriptive study was conducted using a self-administrated questionnaire. The data were collected from 111 nurses in nine kinds of ICUs in two education hospital. Normal saline (75.9%) was the most commonly reported solution for eye hygiene among the Palestinian nurses, and gauze soaked in normal saline or sterile water (64.3%) were the most frequently used supplies by the Turkish nurses. Although both Palestinian and Turkish ICU nurses took some precautions to prevent eye complications in critical patients, there were some gaps and insufficiencies in the eye care of ICU patients. There is a need for continuing training in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]