[Visually handicapped children and young adults in specialized schools in the French North department in 1995].

Background: In 1988, the prevalence of blindness in France was 0.17/1000 and that of amblyopia 0.48/1000. Medical advances in the last 30 years have modified the population of children with visual impairment.

Patients And Methods: The populations in two specialized schools of the north (340 children and adolescents, 3-20-year-olds) were studied and compared with the literature.

Results: Cataracts (13%) and congenital nystagmus (11%) were the two most frequent causes. The children taken in charge had less severe diseases than in the past but needed all the same specialized education. However these schools provided more specialized help for children educated near home, in ordinary schools. The children who were educated in the two specialized schools had more severe diseases or more social problems in their families.

Conclusion: The education and educative treatment of these children are discussed.