CHARACTERISTICS OF A PEDIATRIC LOW-VISION POPULATION

Background: Assessment of the causes of childhood blindness is importa nt to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies that can reduce th e incidence of visual impairment. Methods: A retrospective survey of t he clinical records of 395 consecutive children younger than 14 years of age who were attended by the Low Vision Service of State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) was conducted. Data on the age distribution, th e causes of low vision, the types of low vision aids prescribed, the f ollow up of their use, and improvement in visual acuity were obtained. Results: Congenital bilateral toxoplasmic macular scars, optic atroph y, and congenital cataracts were the major causes of low vision in thi s population. The optical aid most frequently prescribed was a telesco pe. The improvement of visual acuity with the use of aids was highly s ignificant.