Epidemiological profile of patients treated at the Cornea’s Department of the Reference Center in Ophthalmology, Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of corneal disorders diagnosed in the Corneal Department of the Ophthalmology Reference Center, Universidade Federal de Goiás, between 2009 and 2018. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed by reviewing of the patients’ medical record. The data collected were registered according to sex, age, and diagnosed eye disorder. The need for corneal transplantation was also assessed. Results: The charts of 3,079 patients were analyzed, of which 52.7% were men. In the sample studied, 31.9% had the diagnosis of keratoconus, 9.2% had suffered ocular trauma, and 7.8% exhibited bullous keratopathy. Keratoconus was more prevalent among 11 to 40-year-old individuals, and sex differences were absent (p = 0.283). Ocular trauma, as well as bacterial and fungal keratitis (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) were more common in men (p < 0.001) aged 41 to 50 years. However, dry eye and corneal dystrophies were more prevalent in women (p < 0.001 for both). Bullous keratopathy was the most prevalent diagnosis in patients aged ≥ 51 years, without sex distinction (0.886). The main causes for transplant indication were keratoconus (31%), ulcer (21.7%), and trauma (15.5%). Conclusion: During the period analyzed, most patients were male and the most prevalent conditions were keratoconus, ocular trauma, and bullous keratopathy