Prevalence of visual dysfunction and ocular motility disorders in developmentally delayed patients

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatrics
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• Developmental delay (DD) often co-occurs with visual impairments.
• Early detection and management of visual issues in DD children are critical for development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of reduced visual acuity (VA), refractive errors (RE), reduced contrast sensitivity, and strabismus in developmentally delayed (DD) pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 257 DD children (IQ ≤ 80, ages 6-16) was conducted.
• Ophthalmic examinations included VA assessment, cycloplegic refraction, contrast sensitivity testing, and strabismus evaluation.
• Data was collected from June to December 2019 in Lahore and Multan, Pakistan.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates were: reduced VA (43.58%), RE (52.92%), strabismus (52.14%), and reduced contrast sensitivity (32.7%).
• Refractive errors included myopia (21.79%), hyperopia (25.68%), and astigmatism (5.45%).
• Strabismus types observed were esotropia (28.02%) and exotropia (24.12%).

Conclusions:

• Developmentally delayed children exhibit a significant burden of visual impairments.
• Ophthalmic management by pediatric ophthalmologists is essential for improving the quality of life in these children.