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A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for the blind in Myanmar
| Content Provider | Scilit |
|---|---|
| Author | Muecke, James Hammerton, Michael Aung, Yee Yee Warrier, Sunil Kong, Aimee Morse, Anna Holmes, Martin Yapp, Michael Hamilton, Carolyn Selva, Dinesh |
| Copyright Year | 2009 |
| Description | Journal: Ophthalmic Epidemiology 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. |
| Related Links | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/09286580903312269 |
| Ending Page | 377 |
| Page Count | 8 |
| Starting Page | 370 |
| ISSN | 09286586 |
| e-ISSN | 17445086 |
| DOI | 10.3109/09286580903312269 |
| Journal | Ophthalmic Epidemiology |
| Issue Number | 6 |
| Volume Number | 16 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| Publisher Date | 2009-12-08 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Journal: Ophthalmic Epidemiology Rehabilitation Visual Impairment Avoidable Causes Children in Schools Schools for the Blind Blind in Myanmar |
| Content Type | Text |
| Subject | Ophthalmology Epidemiology |
