Ophthalmological Perspectives On Children's Eye Health // Офталмологични перспективи на детското очно здраве

The study aims to create an epidemiological picture of childhood ocular morbidity in the city of Shumen, to track the factors that modulate its characteristics, and to formulate recommendations for ensuring positive perspectives on children's eye health. Methods: Information was utilised from primary outpatient ophthalmological examinations of children (0-17 years) for the period 2019-2022, extracting data on the examination date, age, and gender of the patient, and primary diagnosis. Results: Refractive anomalies are the most commonly encountered reason for primary eye examinations within the studied population. Diagnoses related to accommodation disorders, visual asthenopia, and headaches rank second in frequency, while infections of the conjunctiva are in third place. During the pandemic period (2020-2021), a statistically significant dynamic in the distribution of certain diagnoses was observed. Conclusions: The characteristics of childhood eye disease in the area of Shumen are similar to those in other cities in Bulgaria, but have their own individual peculiarities. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the prevalence of myopia, accommodation disorders, and the frequency of infectious conjunctivitis in childhood has been reported. To ensure positive prospects for children's eye health, it is necessary to organise an annual national program for the prevention of eye diseases in children, which should be tailored to the characteristics of eye diseases in the study area.

Grantor dc:publisher

Medical University of Varna

Year dc:date

2025

Authors dc:creator

• Malcheva-Marinova, Slavyana
• Малчева-Маринова, Славяна

• ocular morbidity
• asthenopia
• refractive anomaly
• Офталмология / Ophthalmology

Repository record dc:identifier

http://repository.mu-varna.bg/handle/nls/4184

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.mu-varna.bg:nls/4184