A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for the blind in Myanmar.
Ophthalmic Epidemiol
; 16(6): 370-7, 2009.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19995202
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
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%.CONCLUSION:
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.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Instituições Acadêmicas
/
Cegueira
/
Baixa Visão
/
Inquéritos Epidemiológicos
/
Pessoas com Deficiência Visual
/
Educação Inclusiva
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ophthalmic Epidemiol
Assunto da revista:
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
OFTALMOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália