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A national survey was undertaken in the Republic of Ireland to identify and record all blind children. Children under the age of 16 with best correctable vision of 3/60 were included. There were 172 children identified; 93 boys and 79 girls. These represent approximately 80 percent of the blind children in Ireland. Ninety-seven children (56 percent) were blind due to factors occurring before they were born; 28 of these children (16 percent of the total group) had genetic visual disorders. There were 46 children with perinatal (around the time of birth) causes of blindness. Twenty-two children (13 percent) developed blindness during childhood; eight children had retinoblastoma, seven were treated with bilateral eye enucleation. The two single most common causes of blindness were asphyxia (lack of oxygen) at birth (19 children) and retinopathy of prematurity (19 children). This study identified 109 children who were not previously registered with the Blind Register that is maintained in Ireland. This brings into question the reliability of data based on registry information. If a registry's statistics are to be useful, they must be complete (actively seek out and document visual handicap) and up to date. Almost 30 percent of the identified causes of blindness are potentially remediable, and 40 percent cannot be corrected with our current level of knowledge. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

There are an estimated 45 million blind people in the world of whom only 3% are children. (1) This dramatic difference in numbers of blind adults compared with children accounts […]

Factors affecting preschool children's receipt of vitamin A during the first year of a semiannual program are examined. The program operated in 230 villages in Indonesia. Coverage was best in the more rural and less developed villages. The best performance was achieved by village distributors who were average people for the area (farmers, or non-farmers with minimal education), rather than by upwardly mobile and highly educated residents. Coverage was not affected by the nature of the household or its children. These results may be relevant to planning direct-service projects in the community.

Uveitis potentially leading to blindness can develop in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory joint disease. Inflammation of the uvea, or vascular portion of the eye, may go undetected in children who do not notice slight changes in their vision. Ocular inflammation may develop in 89-24% of children with JRA, and 12% of children with uveitis may go blind. Topical corticosteroid drugs may be sufficient therapy, but oral corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs may be necessary. Comprehensive eye examination, including slit-lamp inspection, should be performed regularly in children with JRA.