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Epidemiology, aetiology and management of visual impairment in children

Ameenat Lola Solebo1, Jugnoo Rahi

  • 1MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, UCL Institute of Child Health, , London, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|October 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Globally, 19 million children have visual impairment, with 1.4 million blind. Early detection and multidisciplinary care by pediatricians are crucial for managing childhood visual impairment (VI).

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • An estimated 19 million children worldwide experience visual impairment, and 1.4 million are blind.
  • Significant disparities in the visually impaired child population exist across different income countries.
  • Children with severe visual impairment/blindness often have co-occurring systemic disorders, complicating their care needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the incidence of severe visual impairment/blindness (SVL/BL) in children in a high-income country context.
  • To highlight the heterogeneity of childhood visual impairment and associated conditions.
  • To emphasize the role of pediatric professionals in managing pediatric visual impairment.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based incidence study in the UK.
  • Analysis of data to determine cumulative incidence rates by age 15.
  • Review of the characteristics of the visually impaired pediatric population.

Main Results:

  • The annual cumulative incidence of severe visual impairment/blindness (SVL/BL) is estimated at 6/10,000 by age 15 in the UK.
  • Incidence is highest during the first year of life.
  • A substantial proportion of children with SVL/BL have additional systemic disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatricians and other pediatric professionals are vital for the early detection of visual impairment in children.
  • Multidisciplinary management is essential to mitigate the impact of childhood visual impairment.
  • Understanding the diverse needs of visually impaired children, including those with co-occurring conditions, is critical for effective care.

Keywords:
Blindness/EpidemiologyChildLow/EpidemiologyVisionVision Disorders

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