Causes of childhood blindness in the People's Republic of China: results from 1131 blind school students in 18 provinces

Aims-determine the anatomical site and underlying causes of blindness and s evere visual impairment in children under 16 years of age in special educat ion in the People's Republic of China with a view to determining potentiall y preventable and treatable causes. Methods-A national study of children attending schools for the blind in Chi na was conducted between April and June 1998 using the WHO Prevention of Bl indness Programme (WHO/PBL) eye examination record for children with blindn ess and low vision. Eight Chinese ophthalmologists attended a training work shop before conducting the study. 36 blind schools in 18 provinces of China were included. Results-1245 children aged between 5 and 15 years were examined, of whom 11 31 (91%) were blind or severely visually impaired visual acuity less than 6 /60 in the better eye). The commonest anatomical sites of visual loss were whole globe (mainly microphthalmos) 25.5% and retina (mainly dystrophies) 2 4.9%. Lens was the major site in 18.8%, optic nerve in 13.6%, and glaucoma in 9%. Corneal scarring was not a major cause of visual loss. The aetiology was unknown in 52.9%, hereditary factors were responsible in 30.7%, and ch ildhood causes in 14%. 15% of cases were considered potentially preventable and 22.5% potentially treatable. Conclusion-The pattern of childhood blindness seen in this study is Likely to reflect the improved health and socioeconomic status of China but may pa rtly reflect bias in admission to, and location of, blind schools, with hig her socioeconomic groups overrepresented. Nutritional and infective causes of blindness are uncommon, and hereditary and unknown factors are now the p redominant causes.