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Childhood blindness is an important contribution to the national prevalence of the disability of blindness. [3] Blindness in children can be defined as a visual acuity of <3/60 in the eye with better vision of a child under 16 years of age. [4]
Congenital blindness is a hereditary disease and can be treated by gene therapy. Visual loss in children or infants can occur either at the prenatal stage (during the time of conception or intrauterine period) or postnatal stage (immediately after birth). [3] There are multiple possible causes of congenital blindness.
Childhood cataracts are the primary cause of childhood blindness. [4] Childhood cataracts make up 7.4% to 15.3% of blindness in kids. [ 4 ] The prevalence of childhood cataracts ranges from 0.63/10,000 to 9.74/10,000 children, with a median of 1.71. [ 6 ]
Visual or vision impairment (VI or VIP) is the partial or total inability of visual perception.In the absence of treatment such as corrective eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment, visual impairment may cause the individual difficulties with normal daily tasks, including reading and walking. [6]
ONH is the single leading cause of permanent legal blindness in children in the western world. [12] The incidence of ONH is increasing, although it is difficult to estimate the true prevalence. Between 1980 and 1999, the occurrences of ONH in Sweden increased four-fold to 7.2 per 100,000, while all other causes of childhood blindness had declined.
Treatment options depend on the severity of the condition. For children under the age of two years old whose vision is affected by the cataracts in both eyes, surgical options include intraocular lens implantation or a lensectomy. [2] Congenital cataracts are considered to be a significant cause of childhood blindness.
LCA symptoms typically begin in the first few months of life, most commonly with involuntary twitching of the eye . Affected infants may show misaligned eyes when looking at something ( strabismus ), aversion to light ( photophobia ), and poke or rub at their eyes (Franceschetti’s oculodigital sign). [ 9 ]
Glasses are easiest while contact lenses can provide a wider field of vision. [2] Surgery works by changing the shape of the cornea. [5] Far-sightedness primarily affects young children, with rates of 8% at 6 years old and 1% at 15 years old. [9]