Characterization of Visual and Ocular Morbidity of the Population Treated in the Central Region, According to the 2009 and 2010 RIPS Reports

Abstract

<em><strong>Objective</strong><em> To characterize the visual and ocular morbidity of the population treated based on the reports from the individual records of the provision of health services (RIPS), years 2009-2010, in the departments from the central region of Colombia. <em><strong>Materials and methods</strong><em> retrospective descriptive study. The RIPS from Chapter VII of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Version (ICD-10), were included: eye diseases and related. For statistical analysis, the 59 codes of Chapter VII of ICD-10 were reclassified into 18 codes established by the Ibero-American Epidemiological Network in Visual and Ocular Health (Reisvo) and the following variables were taken into consideration: age, gender and health coverage scheme. <em><strong>Results</strong><em> The most frequent diagnoses were disorders of the conjunctiva (2009: 60.1 % and 2010: 25.4 %) and accommodation and refractive disorders (2009: 20.9 % and 2010: 43.9 %). Eyelid disorder was the third most common diagnosis in both years (2009: 9.5 % and 2010: 4.4 %). Rate of blindness and decreased visual acuity were 3.1% in 2010. <em><strong>Conclusions</strong><em> Accommodation and refractive disorders are highly prevalent in the region and primarily affect two population groups: children and adults. This raises an alert for the Ministry of Health and Social Protection because uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of visual impairment and the second leading cause of blindness in the world.