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Refractive errors in young children with Down syndrome
J M Woodhouse1, V H Pakeman, M Cregg
1Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Wales-Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Summary
Refractive errors are common in children with Down syndrome (DS). Early childhood reveals a higher prevalence and wider distribution of refractive errors, including astigmatism, in young DS patients compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Significant refractive errors are frequently observed in older children and adults with Down syndrome.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for visual development in children with Down syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and distribution of refractive errors in infants and young children with Down syndrome.
- To identify the age at which refractive errors become more prevalent in children with Down syndrome compared to controls.
Main Methods:
- Noncycloplegic retinoscopy was performed on 92 participants with Down syndrome, aged 4 months to 12 years.
- Refractive states were analyzed and compared to age-matched control groups.
Main Results:
- Infants with Down syndrome showed refractive error distributions similar to controls.
- A wider distribution and higher prevalence of refractive errors, including astigmatism, were observed in older children with Down syndrome compared to controls.
- These defects were not attributable to strabismus or other ocular pathologies.
Conclusions:
- Refractive errors, particularly astigmatism, increase in prevalence during early childhood in individuals with Down syndrome.
- Ophthalmological monitoring from infancy is essential for early detection and management of visual impairments in children with Down syndrome.