[The currently most common causes of childhood blindness in Kinshasa (d. R. Congo)].
BACKGROUND
90 % of blind children live in the developing world. Only limited data are available on the prevalence and causes of blindness.


OBJECTIVE
In order to identify the commonest causes of childhood blindness in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a study was conducted in 81 children (< 16 years old) attending schools for the blind in the capital city Kinshasa.


RESULTS
According to WHO criteria, 53 (65.4 %) of the 81 children were classifiable as blind (visual acuity < 3/60), 11 (13.6 %) as visually impaired (visual acuity < 1/18) and 17 (21.0 %) as not impaired. On anatomic and functional classifications the commonest causes of blindness were: corneal opacity/scarring (20.0 %), phthisis bulbi (15.2 %), refractive anomalies (11.0 %), optic nerve atrophy (9.0 %), retinal disorders (7.6 %), glaucoma/buphthalmos (7.6 %), cataract (6.9 %), microphthalmos (3.5 %), vitreous opacity (2.8 %) and aphakia (2.1 %). The aetiology of blindness could not be determined in most of the children. Trauma, measles in conjunction with vitamin A deficiency, and the use of traditional eye medications are presumed to be the commonest causes of corneal opacity/scarring and of resultant phthisis bulbi.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood blindness would be potentially avoidable in 60 % of cases, either by surgery (for cataract [ 6.9 %]) or by preventive measures (corneal opacity/scarring, phthisis bulbi, glaucoma, refractive anomalies [ 53.0 %]).
Universitäts-Augenklinik Rostock, Rostock, Germany. SteffiKN74@gmx.de
S
S
Knappe
M
M
Schittkowski
W
W
Schröder
A
A
Hopkins
N
N
Fichter
R
R
Guthoff
D000293:Adolescent; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004519:Education, Special; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014787:Vision Tests; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*