Technology for performing ocular self-examination: comparison between printed and virtual booklets.

OBJECTIVE: Comparing the results of the ocular self-examination performed with the aid of printed and virtual versions of an educational booklet.

METHOD: A quasi-experimental study carried out in a state (public) school of a capital in northeast Brazil, with 100 students equally divided into control and intervention groups according to age, gender, schooling and economic status. Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS: The results of the self-examination obtained by the virtual and printed booklets were statistically similar, except for the item 'Alterations of the pupillary reflex', in which the virtual booklet was more effective for its identification (p=0.049).

CONCLUSION: The printed and virtual versions of the ocular educational booklet have similar efficacy for performing ocular self-examination.