Anxiety in Children with Low Vision Secondary to Refractive Errors

This study aimed to evaluate the anxiety status of children with low vision due to refractive errors using a questionnaire survey.

Between July and November 2019, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire was administered to children with refractive errors (≥3D) and amblyopia who presented to the ophthalmology clinic. Children with low vision were evaluated based on their answers to the SCARED questionnaire.

This study included 38 children (22 girls, 16 boys) with low vision. The average age of the participants was 9.74±2.65 (7-12) years. The average binocular vision was 0.28±0.21 LogMAR. The mean total anxiety score was 21.68±10.55. At least one type of anxiety was detected in 18 (47.4%) children. A positive correlation and statistical significance were found between binocular low vision and anxiety (r=0.63, p<0.001). Boys were more susceptible to anxiety than girls, and a positive moderate correlation and statistical significance were found (r=0.50, p=0.002).

Anxiety may develop in children with low vision, and this anxiety more commonly occur in boys than in girls (p=0.002). In addition, psychological disorders can be seen in children with low vision. To better evaluate this connection, large case series studies including visual impairment due to different reasons are needed.