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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
Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica
|April 4, 2001
Summary
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.
