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Ocular manifestations in children with developmental delay at a tertiary center in South India
Vidya Hegde1, Rashmi Jain1, Anupama Bappal1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Yenepoya Medical College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Most children with developmental delay have ocular disorders, highlighting the need for comprehensive eye exams. Early detection of vision problems in these children is crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neurology
Background:
- Developmental delay affects milestone acquisition in children.
- Ocular disorders are a significant concern in children with developmental delay.
- Understanding the prevalence and associations of eye conditions is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the distribution of ocular disorders in children with developmental delay.
- To assess correlations between ocular findings and systemic comorbidities, antenatal, postnatal, and perinatal factors.
- To investigate the relationship between ocular findings and the causes of developmental delay.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 128 children under 16 with developmental delay.
- Comprehensive ophthalmological evaluations, including cycloplegic refraction and age-appropriate vision assessment.
- Spearman's correlation test to analyze associations between ocular findings and various patient histories.
Main Results:
- 85.93% of children presented with ocular findings, most commonly refractive errors (astigmatism, hypermetropia, myopia) and strabismus (esotropia).
- Vision impairment was noted in 39.84% of the study group.
- No statistical association was found between ocular findings and causes of developmental delay, though weak negative correlations existed with antenatal history, delivery mode, and gestational age.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of ocular findings exists in children with developmental delay.
- Routine ocular evaluations are essential for children diagnosed with developmental delay.
- Further research may explore specific interventions for ocular conditions in this population.
Purpose:
Developmental delay occurs when a child exhibits a significant delay in the acquisition of milestones, in one or more domains of development. This study was planned to determine the distribution of ocular disorders and to assess the correlation between ocular findings and systemic co morbidity, antenatal and postnatal factors, and perinatal history.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included children with developmental delay <16 years of age. All children underwent complete ophthalmological evaluation including full cycloplegic refraction. Vision assessment was done as appropriate for age. Spearman's correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between ocular findings and causes for developmental delay and antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal history.
Results:
A total of 128 children were evaluated. Mean age of the study group was 5.59 ± 2.12 years, 64.8% were males, and 76.6% of children were from rural area. Ocular findings were seen in 110 (85.93%) children, refractive error being the most common finding seen in 87 children (astigmatism n = 47, hypermetropia n = 28, and myopia n = 12). Strabismus was seen in 65 children, esotropia being the most common (n = 36). Vision impairment was present in 39.84% of children. Other ocular findings included disc pallor, cataract, ptosis, amblyopia, keratoconus, telecanthus, lagophthalmos, blepharitis, retinitis pigmentosa, and morning glory syndrome. Spearman's correlation showed no statistical association between ocular findings and various causes for developmental delay. There was a weak negative correlation between antenatal history, mode of delivery, gestational age, and ocular findings.
Conclusion:
More than three-fourths of children with developmental delay had ocular findings which necessitates the need for ocular evaluation.
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