Prevalence of Visual Impairment among Deaf and Mute Schools Children

Background: Particular attention must be paid to ocular abnormalities in deaf children, as their early detection and proper treatment will greatly affect their social and professional performance.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in deaf and mute children.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was done from December 2011 to April 2012 in Shebin El-Kom and Menoufcities, Menoufia governorate, Egypt.

Methods: This is a cross section study done including two schools for deaf and mute children (435 students from 6 to 18 years old) in order to evaluate the prevalence of visual impairment among them. A screening test using Landolt broken ring chart was done to measure the visual acuity of each child. Children with visual acuity 6/12 or less in one or both eyes were referred to Menoufia University Hospital for detailed ophthalmic examination.

Results: The study revealed 39 students (9%) had visual acuity ≤6/12 in one or both eyes. 19 children had astigmatism (4.4%), 4 were myopic (0.9%) and 9 were hypermetropic (2.1%). Strabismus found in 2 children (0.5%) while other 2 were amblyopic (0.5%). 3 children suffer from retinitis pigmentosa and associated disorders.

Conclusions: The prevalence of visual impairment recorded in two schools for deaf and mute children (aged from 6 to 18 years) was 9%.