Individuals prevalence affected by myopia in the riverside population of Santarém, Pará, compared to the urban population of Campinas, São Paulo

Purpose Mensure the prevalence of myopia between 5–14 years and the use of technology between urban and rural populations. Methods A prospective, observational, analytical, cross‐sectional, ecological study based on the review of 225 medical records and questionnaires applied in the voluntary project Barco de Saúde São Leopoldo Mandic, in Santarém and in the Penido Burnier Institute, in Campinas. The questionnaire measured the variables: age, sex, age at onset of exposure to technology, exposure time, type of technology and reason for use. Refractometric data were collected from the same autorefractive equipment in the two city to minimize divergences. Results Of the 225 patients analyzed, 14.66% are myopic, 27.27% from Santarém and 72.73% from Campinas. It was seen that 78.89% of patients in Pará did not use technology or only used television, in Campinas only 21.11% had this kind of contact. In Campinas there is greater use associated of cell phones, television, computer and tablets, besides the time of technology use in Pará to be between 0 to 3 hours while in Campinas it takes more than 3 hours. Conclusion The myopia has its prevalence increasing significantly. It is a disorder with great social impact and eye health. The fast growth of its prevalence has suggested the involvement of environmental factors, such as the extensive use of near vision and poor exposure in outdoor settings. The study evidenced the relevant contribution of the environment.