Severe visual deficits in infancy in northern Israel: an epidemiological perspective.

The characteristics of 193 legally blind children ranging in ages from birth to 4 years were analyzed. The overall incidence was 1/1000 live births; however, the ethnic specific incidence varies. All children were diagnosed before the age of 20 months and the most frequent alerting sign was lack of visual tracking. In 33.3%, the deficit was first suspected by a family member. A genetic etiology accounted for 38% of the cohort. The relative risk for an associated handicap was significant as well as the rate of hospitalizations for apparently unassociated diseases. It appears that both prevention and early detection could be achieved by a risk index.