Abstract | BACKGROUND: 90 % of blind children live in the developing world. Only limited data are available on the prevalence and causes of blindness. PURPOSE AND METHODS: In order to identify the commonest causes of childhood blindness in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a study was conducted in 81 children (< 16 years old) attending schools for the blind in the capital city Kinshasa. RESULTS: According to WHO criteria, 53 (65.4 %) of the 81 children were classifiable as blind (visual acuity < 3/60), 11 (13.6 %) as visually impaired (visual acuity < 1/18) and 17 (21.0 %) as not impaired. On anatomic and functional classifications the commonest causes of blindness were: corneal opacity/ scarring (20.0 %), phthisis bulbi (15.2 %), refractive anomalies (11.0 %), optic nerve atrophy (9.0 %), retinal disorders (7.6 %), glaucoma/ buphthalmos (7.6 %), cataract (6.9 %), microphthalmos (3.5 %), vitreous opacity (2.8 %) and aphakia (2.1 %). The aetiology of blindness could not be determined in most of the children. Trauma, measles in conjunction with vitamin A deficiency, and the use of traditional eye medications are presumed to be the commonest causes of corneal opacity/ scarring and of resultant phthisis bulbi. CONCLUSION:
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Authors | S Knappe, M Schittkowski, W Schröder, A Hopkins, N Fichter, R Guthoff |
Journal | Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde
(Klin Monbl Augenheilkd)
Vol. 224
Issue 7
Pg. 597-602
(Jul 2007)
ISSN: 0023-2165 [Print] Germany |
Vernacular Title | Die gegenwärtig häufigsten Ursachen der Kinderblindheit in Kinshasa (D. C. Kongo). |
PMID | 17657695
(Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Blindness
(epidemiology, etiology)
- Causality
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Developing Countries
- Education, Special
- Eye Diseases
(epidemiology, etiology)
- Eye Injuries
(epidemiology, etiology)
- Female
- Health Surveys
- Humans
- Infant
- Male
- Urban Population
(statistics & numerical data)
- Vision Tests
- Vision, Low
(epidemiology, etiology)
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