Iowa's pediatric low vision services.
BACKGROUND
Reports in the literature concerning the evaluation and low vision management of visually impaired children are limited, resulting in a lack of information about the characteristics and needs of this population.


METHODS
A review was performed of 762 children evaluated over a 14-year period in a low vision clinic program coordinated by the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.


RESULTS
The age, sex, ocular condition, best corrected visual acuity, habitual near point working distance, and optical devices recommended for use by these children were analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
Ongoing, comprehensive multidisciplinary low vision services are necessary to help children with visual impairments meet their educational, vocational and avocational needs. With ongoing low vision care unnecessary costs-such as those for large print material-can be avoided, therefore creating a significant savings to local or state educational services.
Wilkinson
M E
ME
Vision Rehabilitation Institute, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, IA 52804, USA.
Stewart
I W
IW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007909:Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012682:Sensory Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity