Open AccessAssociation between visual impairment and functional and morphological cerebral abnormalities in full‐term children
Author(s) -
Grönqvist Sonia,
Flodmark Olof,
Tornqvist Kristina,
Edlund Göran,
Hellström Ann
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0420
pISSN - 1395-3907
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0420.2001.079002140.x
Subject(s) - medicine , functional impairment , visual impairment , pediatrics , psychiatry
. Purpose: To characterise the nature and degree of ocular disorders and cerebral morphological and functional abnormalities in a population‐based group of visually impaired full‐term pre‐school children. Methods: Forty‐five children who were born at full‐term between 1989 and 1995 in Värmland, Sweden, were reported as being visually impaired. An ophthalmological examination was performed and clinical data regarding mental development and neurological disease were obtained for all children. Cerebral imaging was performed in 35 children. Results: Twenty‐six per cent of the children were found to have ocular disorders only. Forty‐two per cent had cerebral morphological abnormalities, verified by cerebral imaging, and 65% had signs of cerebral functional abnormalities. In total, 74% were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities. Conclusion: The majority of children with visual impairment, including children with ocular disorders, were found to have cerebral morphological and/or cerebral functional abnormalities. We suggest that any child with visual impairment should therefore undergo cerebral imaging and be examined by a paediatrician in order to establish the correct diagnosis.