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Risk factors of ophthalmic disorders in children with developmental delay

Lisbeth Sandfeld Nielsen1, Hanne Jensen, Liselotte Skov

  • 1Ophthalmological Department, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark. l.sandfeld@dadlnet.dk

Acta Ophthalmologica
|June 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Developmental delay increases the risk of ophthalmic disorders, particularly in children with cerebral palsy (CP) or epilepsy. Early ophthalmological evaluation is crucial for children with these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Developmental delay affects a significant number of children, often associated with various neurological and genetic conditions.
  • Ophthalmic disorders are common in children with developmental delays, but specific risk factors require further investigation.
  • Understanding these risk factors is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention to prevent vision impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify specific diagnoses that elevate the risk of ophthalmic disorders in children with developmental delay.
  • To quantify the association between various conditions and the prevalence of visual impairment, refractive errors, and strabismus.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1126 Danish children aged 4-15 years with developmental delay (IQ ≤ 80).
  • Ophthalmological and pediatric data were analyzed for 719 children.
  • Relative risks (RRs) of ophthalmic disorders were calculated for conditions including cerebral palsy (CP), epilepsy, genetic syndromes, and verified cerebral abnormalities.

Main Results:

  • Children with CP had increased risks of visual impairment (RR 2.3) and refractive errors (RR 1.5).
  • Epilepsy was associated with a higher risk of visual impairment (RR 2.5).
  • Verified cerebral abnormalities correlated with visual impairment (RR 1.9) and strabismus (RR 1.8), while Down's syndrome increased the risk of visual impairment (RR 2.7) and refractive errors (RR 2.2).

Conclusions:

  • Developmental delay, particularly when accompanied by CP, epilepsy, verified cerebral abnormalities, or genetic syndromes, significantly increases the risk of ophthalmic disorders.
  • Ophthalmological evaluation should be considered for all developmentally delayed children, especially those with suspected or diagnosed CP, epilepsy, cerebral abnormalities, or genetic syndromes.
  • Early detection and management of ophthalmic conditions in this vulnerable population are essential for optimizing visual outcomes.
Abstract

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