Nadeem H Butt.
Childhood Blindness - Aetiological Pattern and Hereditary Factors.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;18(4):92-4.

Purpose of Study: To evaluate the severity of blindness In the Paediatric age group according to the WHO criteria. To study the causes of visual disability. To study the consanguinity of marriages resulting in production of offsprings suffering from visual disability Materials and Methods: A study of children studying In blind schools of Lahore was carried out. 234 children studying both in boys and girls institution were evaluated. The Evaluation included History, General Physical examination, Ophthalmic examination, Including assessment of visual acuity, anterior segment examination, ophthalmoscopic examination with direct and indirect ophthalmoscope. In some cases Investigations like B-scan was also carried out to come to an aetiologlcal diagnosis of the blindness. Some of the cases were also referred to the base hospital for detailed evaluation. Results: Blindness was diagnosed in 82% of the children, 10% had severe visual impairment and 8 were suffering from visual Impairment. The Important anatomical causes of visual disability were retinal diseases (41%), disorders of globe (24%), corneal disease (19%), cataract (7%) and Glaucoma (6%). 62% of the children had already received some kind of medical treatment, the details of which were unknown to them or their parents, surgical treatment was given In 28% and 9% did not receive any treatment at all. High consanguinity was observed in the parents of these children.

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