Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of ocular disorders in an adult population of mentally retarded patients. Methods: Through a retrospective chart review, we reviewed the prevalence of ocular disorders in 119 mentally retarded residents of Southern Virginia Treatment Center, examined in the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals (MCVH) Eye Clinic during 1999-2001. Results: Of the 119 patients examined, the mean age was 47, and 50% were female. Seventy-eight patients (66%) were black and 33 patients (28%) were white. Most of the patients had severe (24%) or profound (61%) mental retardation. Of the 119 patients, 100 (84%) had at least one ocular disorder. The most common ocular disorders were cataract (47%), strabismus (13%), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (10%), open-angle glaucoma (10%), optic atrophy (10%), and corneal opacity (8%). When compared with prior studies (Aitchison, et.al., Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 34:41-48, 1990; Jacobson, et.al, Acta Ophthalmologica, 66:457-462, 1988; Warburg, M., Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 79:450-454, 2001), the prevalence of ocular disorders (p=0.0001), cataracts (p<0.001), retinal detachment (p=0.0003), and glaucoma (p<0.0001) in this series is significantly higher. Conclusion: In our small, retrospective series, we report a relatively high prevalence of several vision-threatening, and treatable, ocular disorders. These entities may be under-recognized in the adult mentally retarded population, and screening ocular examinations may be indicated for these patients.