A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for the blind in Myanmar.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the causes of visual impairment and blindness amongst children in schools for the blind in Myanmar; to identify the avoidable causes of visual impairment and blindness; and to provide spectacles, low vision aids, orientation and mobility training and ophthalmic treatment where indicated.


METHODS
Two hundred and eight children under 16 years of age from all 7 schools for the blind in Myanmar were examined and the data entered into the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Examination Record for Childhood Blindness (WHO/PBL ERCB).


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety nine children (95.7%) were blind (BL = Visual Acuity [VA] < 3/60 in the better eye) and 3 had severe visual impairment (SVI = VA < 6/60 to 3/60 in the better eye). Most children had corneal abnormalities as the major anatomical site of SVI/BL (100, 49.5%), however the cause of SVI/BL was unknown in the majority (88, 43.6%). Measles keratitis was the commonest identifiable cause (17.4%) and 88 children had avoidable causes of SVI/BL (43.6%). Nearly 16% of children required an optical device and 24.2% required medical attention, with a potential for visual improvement through intervention in 15.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Nearly half of the children in schools for the blind in Myanmar had potentially avoidable causes of SVI/BL. With measles being both the commonest identifiable and commonest avoidable cause, the data supports the need for a measles immunization campaign. There is also a need for a dedicated pediatric eye care center with regular ophthalmology visits to the schools, and improved optometric, low vision and orientation and mobility services in Myanmar.
Muecke
James
J
South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Adelaide, Australia. jsmuecke@bigpond.com
Hammerton
Michael
M
Aung
Yee Yee
YY
Warrier
Sunil
S
Kong
Aimee
A
Morse
Anna
A
Holmes
Martin
M
Yapp
Michael
M
Hamilton
Carolyn
C
Selva
Dinesh
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012682:Sensory Aids; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*