OBJETIVO: Identificar aspectos socioeconômicos que influenciam no comparecimento de escolares com alterações visuais ao exame oftalmológico realizado durante campanha comunitária. MÉTODOS: Foram encaminhados para consulta 237 alunos. O questionário por entrevista (levantamento investigativo) foi aplicado aos pais ou responsáveis que acompanharam os escolares durante a consulta oftalmológica da Campanha Nacional de Reabilitação Visual "Olho no Olho" 2002, na cidade de Lins. A escolaridade dos pais ou responsáveis, a renda familiar, a posse de condução própria, a distância entre as moradias e o local do exame e a posse de plano de saúde privado foram pesquisadas. O mesmo questionário foi posteriormente aplicado, por meio de visita domiciliar, aos pais ou responsáveis pelos escolares faltosos. RESULTADOS: Compareceram ao exame oftalmológico e responderam ao questionário 163 alunos (68,8%). Faltaram à consulta 74 alunos (31,2%), dos quais 72 responderam ao questionário. A escolaridade, a renda familiar, a posse de condução própria e a distância entre a casa do escolar e o local do exame não mostraram diferença estatisticamente significante entre os alunos que compareceram ao exame e os faltosos. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p = 0,017) entre os escolares com convênio médico privado que compareceram (27,6%) e os que não compareceram (44,4%) à consulta oftalmológica. CONCLUSÃO: O fato de o escolar estar protegido por convênio médico privado esteve associado ao não comparecimento para o exame oftalmológico.

PURPOSE: To identify socioeconomic aspects influencing the attendance of schoolchildren, who showed visual impairment, at ophthalmologic examination. METHODS: 237 schoolchildren were referred to examinations. A survey questionnaire was applied to the parents or those responsible who accompanied the schoolchildren during the ophthalmologic appointment, of the National Campaign for Visual Rehabilitation "Eye to Eye" 2002 in Lins (SP) city. The following parameters were analyzed: educational level of the parents or those responsible, family income level, possession of a vehicle, the distance between their homes and the place of the examination and the association with a private medical health plan. The same questionnaire was applied afterwards, by means of a personal house visit, to the parents or those responsible for the absent schoolchildren. RESULTS: 163 schoolchildren (68.8%) attended the ophthalmologic examination and answered the questionnaire; 74 students were absent (31.2%) and 72 of them answered the questionnaire later. Educational level, family income level, possession of a vehicle and the distance between their homes and the place of the examination did not show significant difference between the students. There was a significant difference (p = 0,017) between the schoolchildren who have a private medical health plan and attended the examination (27.6%) and the absentees (44.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The fact that the student was protected by a private medical health plan was associated with the fact that he/she did not attend the examination.