Prevention of children’s eye health, current state and opportunities for further development – the Bulgarian perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Preventive measures addressing children's eye health include early detection of visual impairments and timely treatment, which is a guarantee for long-term quality of life. Most of the causes of visual impairment are preventable or treatable. Improving children's eye health through prevention is one of the contemporary aspects of the nurse professional activity. Aim: The aim of the current article is to study and present the Bulgarian experience in the prevention of children's eye health and the participation of medical specialists in relative activities. Materials and Methods: An analysis of Bulgarian scientific literature, reflecting the national experience in the prevention of children's eye health and national regulations related to preventive activities and measures was conducted. A documentary method was applied. Results: The analysis showed that, at the moment in Bulgaria, only episodic regional prophylactic programs for children's vision are implemented. There are scarce data on the participation of nurses in the programs. The prophylactic activities for children's eye health provided by the NHIF are limited. Conclusion: Good eye health is a prerequisite for normal development and good quality of life. In order to improve children's health and equal access of children to preventive care, it is necessary to create a national program and the participation of a multidisciplinary team, including medical specialists and nurses.