* Fundacion Vision

WHO1 estimates that the number of persons with visual impairment in the world, when conditions caused by uncorrected refractive error are included, is much greater than that usually reported using visual acuity (VA) in best corrected vision. Dandona2 suggests that, if uncorrected refractive error is considered, there are some 259 million persons with impaired vision in the world, including 42 million who are blind (VA less than 20/400 in the better eye) and that these numbers, rather than the frequently cited figures of 161 million with impaired vision and 35 million blind, are the ones that should be used in future planning of the VISION 2020 program. Uncorrected refractive error is the most common cause of impaired vision in the world. WHO1 also estimates that there are 1.4 million children in the world who are blind. In Latin America, Chile has reported a prevalence of uncorrected refractive error of 15.8 % in children 5 to 15 years of age3, and it is very probable that the situation is worse in other countries of the region. Visual handicaps caused by these problems can affect the quality of education, personal development and employment opportunities. Additionally, the lack of a diagnosis of low vision or blindness caused by refractive error, can lead to the unnecessary inclusion of these children i