Abstract
Introduction: Children with disabilities must be taken care of properly and ocular disorders in them should be found out early to provide clinical care and better quality of life. Also the care givers and parents must know the need for ocular examination and early treatment of ocular disorders in these children.
Materials and Methods: The study included 262 children studying in special schools. Ocular examination was done using standard examination techniques. Cycloplegic retinoscopy and fundus examination were also done. Children requiring further evaluation and management were referred to tertiary care centres.
Results: After excluding 20 uncooperative students out of the total 262, 242 students were examined of which 72.7% were males. They were categorized into various groups. 49.2% had ocular disorders, more in Down syndrome (68%). Refractive errors (42.1%) was the most common ocular problem and was more in females (51.5%). Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism were seen in 103 eyes (21.2%), 49 eyes (10.1%) and 53 eyes (10.9%) respectively. Strabismus was seen in 13.2% with 57.5% esotropia. Cataract in 14 children, nystagmus (4.1%), squamous blepharitis 0.82%, allergic conjunctivitis 4.1%, hordeolum externum (0.82%), congenital ptosis (1.2%), corneal opacity and sclerocornea (4.1%), micro cornea (1.6%) and keratoconus (0.8%) were other findings.
Discussion and Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of ocular problems in disabled children will help in their overall development. Periodic ocular examination should be made mandatory in special schools. Parents should be made aware to identify and correct visual problems in disabled children promptly and the need for regular follow up.
Keywords: Ocular disorders, Down syndrome, Autism, Mental Retardation, Refractive errors, Strabismus.
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Corresponding Author
Remya Raghavan
Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sree Gokulam Medical College & Research Foundation,
Venjaramoodu .P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 607, Kerala, India
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.:+919895271279; Fax:+914723041116
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i4.66
