Perfil clínico y epidemiológico de las enfermedades oculares no infecciosas en comunidades indígenas de Chocó, Colombia.

Abstract

Objective: to determine the clinical and epidemiological profile of non-infectious ocular diseases in indigenous populations of Choco, Colombia. Materials and Methods: transversal descriptive study, in indigenous communities of the Asociacion de Cabildos Indigenas Embera, Wounaan, Katio, Chami and Tule in 2015. Sampling was not performed, indigenous leaders over the age of 18, without infectious eye diseases were evaluated and decided to voluntarily participate by informed consent. A questionnaire was designed to register demographic and opthalmologic variables variables. Results: 46 indigenous people were evaluated, with an average age of 34,2 ± 9,5 years, 69,6% were men, 21,7% were Embera Dobida, 56,5% had completed secondary education and 23,9% worked in the education area. 82,6% of the participants presented normal visual acuity, 15,2% presented visual deficit and none had severe visual impairment or blindness. Conjunctival alterations were found in 56,5% and alterations in the coverage test in 58,6%, with endotropia and endophoria being the most frequent findings. No alterations were found in the assessment of ocular mobility, tonometry, campimetry, or ocular fundus. Conclusions: acceptable levels of vision and ophthalmological health were found among the evaluated population, which do not represent considerable limitations for their daily work, but could potentially cause them. Endotropia and conjunctival alterations correspond to the most frequent findings.