Ophthalmology in mentally retarded adults. A clinical survey

Examination of 228 mentally retarded adults revealed that every fourth person in the group had a considerable visual handicap. In some of these cases this handicap was previously unknown. More than half of the examined had one or more ocular disorders. In 12 cases there was need for surgery. Fourteen eyes have subsequently been operated on, all without complications. Eight of these operations resulted in improved vision. Considerable refractive errors were found in 54 of the examined. In 70 cases glasses were prescribed, and in a majority of these cases the glasses were worn.