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Blindness in children at the Ida Rieu school for the blind and deaf

Sadia Javed Khan1, Afshan Hassan, Laila Khalid

  • 1Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
|September 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A study at the Ida Rieu School for the blind and deaf found that 53% of childhood blindness cases were avoidable. Many cases were preventable or treatable, highlighting the need for early intervention and public health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Blindness and visual impairment are significant global health challenges, particularly in developing countries.
  • The Ida Rieu School for the blind and deaf in Karachi, Pakistan, serves a vulnerable population where understanding the causes of blindness is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the etiological factors contributing to blindness and visual impairment among students at the Ida Rieu School for the blind and deaf.
  • To assess the proportion of avoidable (preventable and treatable) causes of blindness in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study design was employed, reviewing medical records of students at the Ida Rieu School.
  • Data was collected using the World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment (WHO/PBL) eye examination form for children with blindness and low vision.

Main Results:

  • Records of 144 students (67% male, 33% female, aged 4-30 years) were analyzed.
  • The majority (69%) were blind (< 3/60-NPL), with visual impairment (< 6/18-6/60) in 31%.
  • The retina was the most common anatomical site (41%), and etiology remained unknown in 49% of cases. Hereditary causes were suggested in 33%, with 40% preventable and 13% treatable.

Conclusions:

  • Over half (53%) of the blindness cases were identified as avoidable.
  • A significant proportion of these avoidable cases were preventable (58%) or treatable (19%), underscoring the potential for intervention.
  • These findings emphasize the importance of early detection, prevention, and treatment strategies for childhood blindness in Pakistan.
Abstract

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