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Preventable visual impairment in children 
with nonprofound intellectual disability

Lokman Aslan1, Murat Aslankurt, Adnan Aksoy

  • 1Ophthalmolgy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras¸ - Turkey. lokaslan46@yahoo.com

European Journal of Ophthalmology
|May 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Children with intellectual disability (ID) have a high rate of preventable vision problems like refractive errors and strabismus. Early eye screenings are crucial for managing these conditions and improving their quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Intellectual disability (ID) affects a significant pediatric population.
  • Visual impairments can negatively impact development and quality of life in children with ID.
  • Early detection and management of ocular conditions are essential for this vulnerable group.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence of preventable visual impairments in children with nonprofound intellectual disability.
  • To compare ocular findings between children with Down syndrome (DS) and other forms of nonprofound ID.
  • To identify specific ophthalmic conditions requiring intervention in pediatric ID.

Main Methods:

  • Ophthalmologic examinations were conducted on 215 children with ID (90 with DS, 125 with other ID) and 116 healthy controls.
  • Comprehensive eye assessments included cycloplegic refraction, ocular motility evaluation, strabismus screening, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, funduscopy, and intraocular pressure measurement.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to compare findings across groups.

Main Results:

  • Refractive errors were the most common finding (61.1% in DS, 45.6% in other ID) compared to controls (11.2%).
  • Strabismus was significantly more prevalent in children with DS (33.2%) and other ID (15.2%) than in controls (3.5%).
  • Cataracts and nystagmus were observed in children with ID but not in the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Children with intellectual disability exhibit a high prevalence of visually impairing conditions, including refractive errors, strabismus, and cataracts.
  • Down syndrome is associated with a higher frequency of strabismus and specific refractive errors like hyperopia.
  • Routine ophthalmic screenings are vital for early detection and management to enhance the quality of life for children with ID.
Abstract

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