The Need to Look for Visual Deficit After Stroke in Children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Neurology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Pediatric arterial stroke is a significant cause of acquired neurological disability in children.
• The role of ophthalmological assessment in the comprehensive management of pediatric stroke is not well-defined.
• Visual impairments can significantly impact a child's development and quality of life following a stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the ophthalmologist's role in managing pediatric arterial stroke.
• To identify ophthalmological manifestations at presentation and during follow-up.
• To emphasize the importance of early visual assessment and rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of children with arterial stroke.
• Inclusion criteria: minimum 12-month follow-up in a tertiary pediatric medical center (2005-2016).
• Data collection included demographics, neuroimaging, and ophthalmological/neurological examinations.

Main Results:

• 26 children with arterial stroke were analyzed; common etiologies included metabolic syndrome, cardiac anomalies, and vascular anomalies.
• Ophthalmological manifestations occurred in 7.7% (hemianopic visual field defect) and 3.8% (blindness, poor visual acuity) of patients.
• Visual function remained unchanged at the last follow-up visit for all affected patients.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric stroke's diverse causes and presentations can obscure visual signs.
• Routine ophthalmological evaluation is recommended for children diagnosed with arterial stroke.
• Prompt visual assessment and rehabilitation are essential for optimizing outcomes.