Unlabelled: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood physical disability globally. This study describes the spectrum of ocular morbidity and visual impairment in a community-based (recruited by key informants) sample of children with CP in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Methods: A paediatric neurologist clinically confirmed CP and assessed systemic comorbidity. Ophthalmological assessment included developmental age appropriate acuity tests, objective refraction and objective and subjective tests of perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD).

Results: 388 children aged 4-15 years with CP were identified. Visual problems were reported by carers in only 55 (14%) cases. Binocular visual acuity impairment was seen in 20/201 by Lea symbols test (10%) and 213/388 (55%) by the mirror test. Abnormal visual fields were seen in 58/388 (14.9%); strabismus in 183 (47%) abnormal contrast sensitivity in 178 (46%) and abnormal saccades in 84 (22%), spherical refractive errors in 223 (58%), significant astigmatism in 36 (12%), accommodative dysfunction in 41 (10.6%), optic atrophy in 198 (51%). Perceptual visual disorders were present in 22 (6%) subjectively and 177 (46%) objectively. The estimated frequency of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in children ranged from 61 (16%) to 191 (49%) if children with optic atrophy were included.

Conclusion: Children with CP have a wide spectrum of ocular morbidity and visual impairment, underestimated by carers. Children with CP require visual acuity assessments with a range of tests which account for associated comorbidities and oculomotor dysfunction. Functional vision assessments for PVD is important. CVI is common.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317768DOI Listing

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