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Final versus referral diagnosis of childhood visual impairment in an Italian tertiary low vision rehabilitation centre
- Source :
- European Journal of Ophthalmology; September 2020, Vol. 30 Issue: 5 p1156-1161, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Purpose: To compare the final diagnosis of the causes of low vision in children attending a tertiary rehabilitation centre for visually impaired children versus referral diagnosis.Methods: Retrospective review of clinical charts of all children referred to the Robert Hollman Foundation, a tertiary centre for visually impaired children, between January 2010 and June 2011. The following clinical data were analysed: entry diagnosis made by the referral ophthalmologist and final diagnosis made at Robert Hollman Foundation based on a complete ophthalmic evaluation.Results: Ninety-two consecutive children (mean age = 2.37 ± 1.98 years, range = 0–9) were included. A referral diagnosis was retrieved in 76 cases (82.6%), including cerebral visual impairment (14.1%), retinopathy of prematurity (14.1%), hereditary retinal diseases (10.9%), nystagmus (8.7%) and other rarer diseases (34.8%). In the remaining 16 children (17.4%), a precise referral diagnosis was unavailable. Final clinical diagnosis made at Robert Hollman Foundation was normal visual function in 8.7%, cerebral visual impairment in 30.4%, retinopathy of prematurity in 10.9%, hereditary retinal disease in 9.8% and other in 40.2%. In 17 cases (18.5%), the diagnosis made at the Robert Hollman Foundation did not confirm the entry diagnosis. Among patients where measurement of visual acuity was possible (84), 66.7% were blind or seriously visual impaired, and the main causes were cerebral visual impairment (32.1%) and retinopathy of prematurity (16.1%).Conclusion: The most frequent diseases were cerebral visual impairment, retinopathy of prematurity and hereditary retinal diseases. Approximately one-third of referred children had not a correct diagnosis at baseline. The activity of an ophthalmic tertiary centre is essential to offer a precise diagnosis to visually impaired (sometimes with other deficits) children.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11206721 and 17246016
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- European Journal of Ophthalmology
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs54379691
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1120672119854251