title: Characteristics of a paediatric low vision population in a private eye hospital in India.
abstract: While private hospitals provide an important access point for low vision services for children in urban India, little is known about this service delivery route. A cross sectional survey was done of consecutive records of 220 children presenting at a newly opened paediatric low vision centre in a private eye hospital in Hyderabad. On presentation, 49% of the children were classified as moderately visually impaired, 31% were severely visually impaired and 20% were blind. The four major causes of visual impairment were the hereditary/genetic conditions of congenital glaucoma, hereditary macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and albinism. Approach magnification was sufficient for required near tasks in all pre-school children and about 50% of school children. Provision of a distance refraction decreased the prevalence of severe visual impairment and blindness by 31%. The most commonly prescribed low vision devices were spectacles indicating a key role for optometry in the management of visual impairment in Indian children. Establishment of low vision clinics in existing Indian eye hospitals using associated optometric staff would be a cost effective method to minimise visual impairment in Indian children.
authors.affiliation: LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Gothwal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016117:Albinism, Ocular / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology