Difficulty in accessing ophthalmologists is an obstacle to wearing glasses in Brazil

Ophthalmological diseases are caused by several reasons, from genetic causes to lifestyle habits. In the medium and long term, some eye diseases can lead to vision problems and even blindness. The campaign april brown draws attention to the prevention and fight against blindness.

Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) point out that about 285 million people in the world have impaired vision, and most cases could be avoided or can be treated. In Brazil, the last demographic census (IBGE 2010) identified more than 35 million people with some degree of visual impairment.

Although vision problems such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are common, access to diagnosis and treatment is not so simple and accessible for everyone. Experts point out that the country’s socioeconomic inequality prevents the treatment from reaching the entire population.

The ophthalmologist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP) João Marcello Fortes Furtado states that, currently, in Brazil, only the ophthalmologist is qualified to prescribe the use of glasses. “Only the doctor can determine this type of treatment, but, as the prescription of glasses is not taught in medical graduation, in practice, only the ophthalmologist does this”, says Furtado, in a statement.

Due to this specificity to indicate adequate treatment, in more remote places, where there is not a complete structure in the health area and where the existence of specialists is an exception, the population tends to be helpless. In this context, ineffective measures are used to solve the problem, such as buying glasses sold in pharmacies, whose prescription may not be the most suitable for each individual.

lack of access

The difficulty in finding a professional is one of the main barriers to the use of glasses in the country, according to the doctor. In addition, it is necessary to consider the cost that the individual will have to buy the glasses, which is another limitation, especially in poorer places.

“Several cities in Brazil do not have a specialist in the area and, when a professional is present, he is not always available. For example, if he doesn’t work in the public network, the cost of his consultation becomes a barrier for the most vulnerable part of the population”, says Furtado.

Despite the undertakings of joint efforts to try to serve this population and solve the problem, the measure is not enough, evaluates the specialist.

“Imagine a situation where once a year there is a joint effort and, when making the glasses there, for some reason, after a short time it breaks. For that person who was unable to attend that day, they will have to wait until the next task force for their problem to be resolved as well”, warns the professor.

Alternatives

Despite the lack of access to an ophthalmologist being one of the difficulties for adequate treatment, the president of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology, Ricardo Paletta Guedes, claims to believe that the problem is even more complex.

“Brazil has a number above that indicated by the WHO for ophthalmologists per inhabitant. The problem is that there is a bad distribution, there are places with an excess of doctors and others with a shortage, ”he says. For Guedes, targeted public measures are needed to lead to the correction of refractive defects – myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism – to the entire Brazilian population.

Furtado also points out that a better integration of primary health care services could help to solve this challenge in the most deprived areas.

“For example, training could be provided for physicians, who are general practitioners, from the family health program”, he says. After training, the doctor could perform the ophthalmological examination of uncomplicated cases, under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, which can be done remotely, solving the vast majority of refraction problems.

For the USP professor, the inclusion of programs that provide eyeglasses at zero cost would also be an effective measure for people who cannot afford them. “In the same way that there are programs to supply medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. in the public network”, he points out. Despite acknowledging the importance of joint efforts, the doctor says that the population needs something perennial for day-to-day complaints.

(With information from Ana Beatriz Fogaça, from Jornal da USP)