Educational levels in patients with stargardt disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the highest educational level attained by patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment.


METHODS
Cross-sectional assessment.


METHODS
Patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment (documented best-corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in each eye either before or up to the age of 22 years) were included in the study. Information concerning the highest level of education attained was obtained for all participants by an interview.


RESULTS
Of the 33 participants, 32 completed high school. Either an associate's or bachelor's degree was attained by 21 patients (63.6%), whereas 3 patients (9.1%) were enrolled in college at the time of the interview. Further, a postgraduate degree (master's or doctorate) was attained by 7 patients (21.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings document that the potential for attaining a higher degree of academic education beyond high school does not seem to be precluded by clinically significant visual impairment in Stargardt patients. This information can be useful for visual practitioners when counseling these patients and their families.
Anastasakis
Anastasios
A
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Thobani
Azzrah
A
Fishman
Gerald A
GA
McAnany
J Jason
JJ
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015785:Eye Diseases, Hereditary / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult