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[The causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Poland]
M Seroczyńska1, M E Prost, J Medruń
1Kliniki Okulistyki Instytutu Pomnik-Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka w Warszawie.
Insights
Childhood blindness in Poland has risen 70% in 10 years, with optic nerve atrophy and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as leading causes. Early detection and improved care for premature infants are crucial for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Context:
- Childhood blindness and visual impairment present significant public health challenges.
- Understanding epidemiological trends is vital for effective intervention strategies.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence and etiological factors of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Poland between 1979 and 1999.
- To analyze changes in the causes of visual impairment over a 20-year period.
Summary:
- A review of 3000 visually impaired children's records from 1979-1999 revealed a 70% increase in childhood visual disability.
- Leading causes included optic nerve atrophy (21.66%) and retinopathy of prematurity (19.01%), with ROP showing a dramatic rise from 8.1% to 54.5% in 20 years.
- Optic nerve atrophy was primarily observed in premature infants, with its prevalence increasing from 15.5% to 27.27%.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced prenatal and prematurity care.
- Recommendations include improving early diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity to curb rising rates of childhood blindness.
Aim:
To investigate the prevalence and the causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Poland.
Material And Methods:
The records of 3000 visually impaired children from the archives of Polish Association of Blinds and from the centers and schools for visually handicapped children from the years 1979-1999 have been reviewed.
Results:
The number of the visually disabled children in Poland has increased by 70% in the recent 10 years. The main causes of blindness and serious visual loss in the years 1979-1999 are optic nerve atrophy (21.66%), retinopathy of prematurity (19.01%), cataracts (14.13%), high myopia (11.84%), congenital abnormalities (8.65%), retinal dystrophies (8.08%) and glaucoma (6.42%). Optic nerve atrophy occurred mainly in premature infants. There have been great changes in the epidemiology of blindness in the recent 20 years; the percentage of visually disabled children caused by ROP has increased from 8.1% to 54.5% and caused by optic nerve atrophy from 15.5% to 27.27%. The prevalence of other causes has decreased in the same time.
Conclusion:
The main activities required to control blindness in Poland are promotion of pregnancy and prematurity care and improvements in the early diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.