Association between visual impairment and functional and morphological cerebral abnormalities in full-term children.
OBJECTIVE
To characterise the nature and degree of ocular disorders and cerebral morphological and functional abnormalities in a population-based group of visually impaired full-term pre-school children.


METHODS
Forty-five children who were born at full-term between 1989 and 1995 in Värmland, Sweden, were reported as being visually impaired. An ophthalmological examination was performed and clinical data regarding mental development and neurological disease were obtained for all children. Cerebral imaging was performed in 35 children.


RESULTS
Twenty-six per cent of the children were found to have ocular disorders only. Forty-two per cent had cerebral morphological abnormalities, verified by cerebral imaging, and 65% had signs of cerebral functional abnormalities. In total, 74% were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of children with visual impairment, including children with ocular disorders, were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities. We suggest that any child with visual impairment should therefore undergo cerebral imaging and be examined by a paediatrician in order to establish the correct diagnosis.
Grönqvist
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Central Hospital, Karlstad, Sweden. sonia.gronqvist@liv.se
Flodmark
O
O
Tornqvist
K
K
Edlund
G
G
Hellström
A
A
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities