title: Burden of ocular and visual disorders among pupils in special schools in Nepal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine detailed oculo-visual characteristics of children with intellectual disability studying in special schools and explore the burden of visual impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detailed ophthalmic examination was carried out in all pupils studying at the seven special needs schools of Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Ophthalmic examination included case history, presenting distance visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, binocular vision examination, contrast sensitivity and anterior and posterior segment evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ocular and visual status of children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Refractive errors (40%) and strabismus (17%) were the commonest visual disorders in our study children. Ninety-five per cent of the children who had clinically significant refractive errors presented without any correction. Visual impairment was present in 25% of the children. Severe visual impairment or worse was present in 3% of the children. Other common ocular findings were conjunctivitis, blepharitis, chalazion and ectropion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of preventable visual impairment in this population requires immediate attention. It is hoped that the formulation of proper vision care guidelines at a national level may help in early detection and management of visual disorders in this special population and enhance their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: B P Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Sudan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: B.P. Eye Foundation, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Dipesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattarai
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: B P Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Jyoti Baba
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nabin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paudel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D004519:Education, Special; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: Ophthalmology; School Health