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Published on: January 11, 2016
Visual impairment due to a dyskinetic eye movement disorder in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy
J E Jan1, C J Lyons, R K Heaven
1Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Visually Impaired Program, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Insights
Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) often have severe eye movement disorders, leading to misdiagnosis as blind. Early identification and management are crucial for their development and education.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Neurological lesions causing dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) frequently impact ocular motor control.
- Dyskinetic CP is characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled movements affecting various body parts, including the eyes.
Observation:
- This study details 14 children (9 males, 5 females) aged 4 months to 13 years with CP and severe dyskinetic eye movements.
- The observed eye movement disorder is characterized by slow, variable, and inefficient visual function.
- Children with this condition are often misdiagnosed with cortical visual impairment or blindness.
Findings:
- The clinical features of this specific dyskinetic eye movement disorder are defined.
- Inefficient visual function in these children significantly impacts their interaction with the environment.
- Misdiagnosis as blindness can result from the atypical visual presentation.
Implications:
- Early recognition of dyskinetic eye movement disorder is critical for accurate diagnosis.
- Appropriate developmental support and educational strategies are essential for affected children.
- Understanding this specific visual impairment can prevent misdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Neurological lesions that cause dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) commonly involve ocular movements. This report describes a group of 14 children (nine males, five females) whose CP is associated with severe dyskinetic eye movements. Ages ranged from 4 months to 13 years (mean 6.9 years). Clinical features of this eye movement disorder are discussed and defined. The visual function of these children is slow, variable, and highly inefficient. They are often misdiagnosed as blind, due to cortical visual impairment. Early recognition of dyskinetic eye moment disorder and appropriate developmental and educational management are important.
