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Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi

Patrick Ruhagaze1, Kahaki Kimani Margaret Njuguna, Lévi Kandeke

  • 1Department of Eye, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology
|April 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Cornea and lens pathologies are leading causes of childhood blindness in Burundi. Many cases lack identified causes, highlighting the need for enhanced public health and pediatric eye care services.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood blindness and severe visual impairment pose significant challenges in low-resource settings.
  • Understanding the specific etiological factors is crucial for effective intervention and service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment among students in schools for the blind in Burundi.
  • To inform the planning and development of essential eye care services for children in the country.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive eye examination was conducted on pupils attending three schools for the blind in Burundi.
  • Data collection utilized a modified World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment (WHO/PBL) eye examination record form.
  • Analysis focused on visual impairment that occurred before the age of 16 years.

Main Results:

  • 117 pupils with visual impairment before age 16 were examined, with 109 (93.2%) classified as blind or severely visually impaired.
  • The primary anatomical causes were cornea pathology/phthisis (23.9%), lens pathology (18.3%), uveal lesions (14.7%), and optic nerve lesions (11.9%).
  • The underlying etiology of visual loss remained unknown in a significant majority of cases (74.3%). Poor surgical outcomes were noted for lens-related blindness.

Conclusions:

  • Identified causes underscore the need for sustained public health strategies and specialized pediatric ophthalmology services in Burundi.
  • The study highlights the importance of community-based programs for early identification and referral of children with visual impairments.
  • Addressing unknown etiologies and improving surgical outcomes are critical for managing childhood blindness effectively.
Abstract

Keywords:
BurundiChildhood BlindnessSchools for the Blind

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