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Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease symptoms and clinical diagnoses in Sao Paulo city, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil., Methods: A total of 582 participants over 18 years old, living in the east zone of Sao Paulo city responded to a short questionnaire. Dry eye disease was on that is defined by the presence of severe symptoms or previous clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease by an ophthalmologist. The association between dry eye disease and possible risk factors was assessed., Results: Overall dry eye disease severe symptoms and/or clinical diagnoses prevalence was calculated as 24.4% for both sexes. Women presented a higher frequency of severe symptoms of dry eye disease (16.07%) than men (8.48%; p=0.0244), as well as the composite of severe symptoms or diagnosed dry eye disease, presented by 26.86% of women and 18.18% of men (p=0.0366). In women, ages between 55 to 75 years old were associated with dry eye disease severe symptoms (OR=3.11; 95%CI 1.56-6.23, p=0.001) and diagnosed dry eye disease (OR=2.02; 95% CI 1.04-3.93, p=0.037). Hypertension was significantly associated with dry eye disease symptoms (OR=1.98; 95% CI 1.14-3.43, p=0.015) and diagnoses (OR=3.54; 95% CI 1.92-6.53, p=0.0001) in women. Eye drops use was associated with severe symptoms of dry eye disease and diagnosed dry eye disease in both women and men (p≤0.01)., Conclusions: Dry eye disease prevalence in Sao Paulo city is higher in women than in men. Age and hypertension were stronger risk factors of dry eye disease for women, while eye drops use was a significant indicator of dry eye disease for both sexes.

Background: This paper reports population-based data on the prevalence and causes of visual impairment among children and adults in Botucatu, Brazil., Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving a random start point and then systematic sampling of an urban Brazilian population in the city of Botucatu. There were approximately 3,300 individuals aged 1 to 91 years who were eligible to participate in the study. Of this sample, 2485 (75.3%) underwent ophthalmic examination. The ophthalmic examination included uncorrected (presenting) and best corrected distance visual acuity using standardized protocols. The primary cause of decreased visual acuity was identified for all patients with visual impairment., Results: Presenting low vision and presenting blindness were found in 5.2% (95% CI: 4.3-6.1) and 2.2% (95% CI: 1.6-2.8) of the population, respectively. Unilateral presenting low vision and unilateral presenting blindness were found in 8.3% (95% CI: 7.2-9.5) and 3.7% (95% CI: 2.9-4.4) of the population respectively. Best corrected low vision was found in 1.3% of the population (95% CI: 0.9-1.7) and best corrected blindness was discovered in 0.4% of people (95% CI: 0.2-0.7). The main cause of presenting low vision was refractive error (72.3%) and cataract was the most prevalent cause of blindness (50%)., Conclusion: The main causes of low vision and blindness in this Brazilian city were uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, and retinal diseases. Programs to further reduce the burden of visual impairment need to be targeted toward the correction of refractive error and surgery for cataracts.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and demographic associations of refractive error in Botucatu, Brazil., Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted, which involved random, household cluster sampling of an urban Brazilian population in Botucatu. There were 3000 individuals aged 1 to 91 years (mean 38.3) who were eligible to participate in the study. Refractive error measurements were obtained by objective refraction., Results: Objective refractive error examinations were performed on 2454 residents within this sample (81.8% of eligible participants). The mean age was 38 years (standard deviation (SD) 20.8 years, Range 1 to 91) and females comprised 57.5% of the study population. Myopia (spherical equivalent (SE) < -0.5 dropters (D)) was most prevalent among those aged 30-39 years (29.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 24.8-35.1) and least prevalent among children under 10 years (3.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-7.3). Conversely hypermetropia (SE > 0.5D) was most prevalent among participants under 10 years (86.9%; 95% CI 81.6-91.1) and least prevalent in the fourth decade (32.5%; 95% CI 28.2-37.0). Participants aged 70 years or older bore the largest burden of astigmatism (cylinder at least -0.5D) and anisometropia (difference in SE of > 0.5D) with a prevalence of 71.7% (95% CI 64.8-78.0) 55.0% (95% CI 47.6-62.2) respectively. Myopia and hypermetropia were significantly associated with age in a bimodal manner (P < 0.001), whereas anisometropia and astigmatism increased in line with age (P < 0.001). Multivariate modeling confirmed age-related risk factors for refractive error and revealed several gender, occupation and ethnic-related risk factors., Conclusions: These results represent previously unreported data on refractive error within this Brazilian population. They signal a need to continue to screen for refractive error within this population and to ensure that people have adequate access to optical correction.