[Eye disease in international adoption: Importance of the region of origin].

INTRODUCTION: To describe the ophthalmological conditions seen in children adopted internationally by Spanish families, and to assess the influence of the world region of origin and the preadoption period of institutional care on these conditions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 232 children divided into 4 groups according to world region of origin: Group 1, eastern Europe (n=95); Group 2, Asia (n=95); Group 3, Central and South America (n=26); and Group 4, Africa (n=16). A complete ophthalmological study was carried out and the groups were compared for the prevalence of ophthalmological conditions.

RESULTS: Among the total, 57.8% (134) of children presented ophthalmological abnormalities. The prevalence of ametropia was strongly correlated with the world region of origin, and was significantly higher in Group 3 (65.4%) compared to the remaining groups. Strabismus and optic nerve hypoplasia (15.8% and 3.2%, respectively) were more prevalent in Group 1. The preadoption institutional care period was longer in children in Groups 1 and 3 (24.5 and 27.7 months, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Children adopted from Central and South America had the highest prevalence of ametropia. Adopted children from eastern Europe showed a weak tendency to present strabismus and optic nerve hypoplasia. Adoptive parents, pediatricians and ophthalmologists should be aware of the high prevalence of ophthalmologic conditions in internationally adopted children and provide the means for a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.