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Association between visual impairment and functional and morphological cerebral abnormalities in full-term children
S Grönqvist1, O Flodmark, K Tornqvist
1Department of Ophthalmology, Central Hospital, Karlstad, Sweden. sonia.gronqvist@liv.se
Insights
Most visually impaired preschoolers have brain abnormalities. This study found that 74% of children with visual impairment had cerebral morphological or functional issues, highlighting the need for thorough neurological evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Child Neurology
Background:
- Visual impairment in children can stem from various causes.
- Understanding associated neurological conditions is crucial for comprehensive care.
- Population-based studies are vital for characterizing such associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ocular disorders and cerebral abnormalities in visually impaired preschoolers.
- To determine the prevalence of morphological and functional brain issues in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Study included 45 full-term preschoolers with visual impairment in Värmland, Sweden.
- Ophthalmological examinations and clinical data on development/neurology were collected.
- Cerebral imaging was conducted on 35 of the children.
Main Results:
- 26% had only ocular disorders.
- 42% showed cerebral morphological abnormalities via imaging.
- 74% exhibited cerebral morphological and/or functional abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- The majority of visually impaired children have cerebral abnormalities.
- Ocular disorders alone do not exclude brain involvement.
- Recommend cerebral imaging and pediatric examination for all visually impaired children.
Purpose:
To characterise the nature and degree of ocular disorders and cerebral morphological and functional abnormalities in a population-based group of visually impaired full-term pre-school children.
Methods:
Forty-five children who were born at full-term between 1989 and 1995 in Värmland, Sweden, were reported as being visually impaired. An ophthalmological examination was performed and clinical data regarding mental development and neurological disease were obtained for all children. Cerebral imaging was performed in 35 children.
Results:
Twenty-six per cent of the children were found to have ocular disorders only. Forty-two per cent had cerebral morphological abnormalities, verified by cerebral imaging, and 65% had signs of cerebral functional abnormalities. In total, 74% were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities.
Conclusion:
The majority of children with visual impairment, including children with ocular disorders, were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities. We suggest that any child with visual impairment should therefore undergo cerebral imaging and be examined by a paediatrician in order to establish the correct diagnosis.
