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Visual impairment in Nordic children. III. Diagnoses
E Hansen1, T Flage, T Rosenberg
1Norwegian Registry of Blindness, Rikshospitalet.
Acta Ophthalmologica
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Optic atrophy, retinopathy of prematurity, and cerebral amblyopia are leading causes of severe visual impairment in children across Nordic countries. Congenital malformations and neuro-ophthalmological diseases are also significant contributors.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe visual impairment in children presents a significant public health challenge.
- Understanding the etiological landscape of childhood visual impairment is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the causes, types, and sites of severe visual impairment in children under 18.
- To compare the prevalence of different diagnoses across Nordic countries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from national registers of visually impaired children in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.
- Inclusion of 2527 children in the study cohort.
Main Results:
- Congenital malformations, neuro-ophthalmological diseases, and retinal diseases are predominant causes.
- Optic atrophy is the leading single cause, followed by retinopathy of prematurity and cerebral amblyopia.
- Congenital cataract is also a significant factor; neuro-ophthalmological diseases were more prevalent in Denmark.
Conclusions:
- Optic atrophy, retinopathy of prematurity, and cerebral amblyopia are key diagnoses for severe visual impairment in children.
- Multidisciplinary evaluation is essential due to high rates of additional impairments in certain diagnostic groups, particularly neuro-ophthalmological and congenital malformation cases.