[Proposal for a procedure for the detection of ophthalmic disorders in school children]

The proposal for a visual acuity test (A.V.) arose from a survey conducted among School Children of the "Ciclo Básico (C.B.)" i.é., the first two years of Elementary School in S. Carlos, S. Paulo State, Brazil. Nine schools participated in this study. The teachers were properly trained to apply the A. V. and squinting tests according to a standardized procedure. Of 2,025 children tested, 88.1% showed levels of A. V. higher than 0.8, and a squinting prevalence of 2.17%. When the application of the test was over, each school presented its proposals for the systematical application of such tests. These proposals had a common point: the test should be applied by the teachers themselves under the supervision of the coordinators of the C. B. The school nurse would be responsible for giving overall assistance to all the activities of the program at all levels.