Characteristics of a pediatric low-vision population.
BACKGROUND
Assessment of the causes of childhood blindness is important to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies that can reduce the incidence of visual impairment.


METHODS
A retrospective survey of the clinical records of 395 consecutive children younger than 14 years of age who were attended by the Low Vision Service of State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) was conducted. Data on the age distribution, the causes of low vision, the types of low vision aids prescribed, the follow up of their use, and improvement in visual acuity were obtained.


RESULTS
Congenital bilateral toxoplasmic macular scars, optic atrophy, and congenital cataracts were the major causes of low vision in this population. The optical aid most frequently prescribed was a telescope. The improvement of visual acuity with the use of aids was highly significant.
de Carvalho
K M
KM
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Minguini
N
N
Moreira Filho
D C
DC
Kara-José
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015418:Optic Atrophies, Hereditary / Q000150:complications; D055656:Prescriptions; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*