December 2002
Volume 43, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   December 2002
Prevalence of Blindness and Low Vision among Children in a Tertiary Center
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • JA Paczka
    Instituto de Oftalmologia y Ciencias Visuales University of Guadalajara Guadalajara Mexico
  • R Acuña-Maldonado
    Pediatric Ophthalmology Service Centro Medico de Occidente-IMSS Guadalajara Mexico
  • R Gómez-Carmona
    Pediatric Ophthalmology Service Centro Medico de Occidente-IMSS Guadalajara Mexico
  • A Avila-González
    Pediatric Ophthalmology Service Centro Medico de Occidente-IMSS Guadalajara Mexico
  • V Villar-Calvo
    Pediatric Ophthalmology Service Centro Medico de Occidente-IMSS Guadalajara Mexico
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   J.A. Paczka, None; R. Acuña-Maldonado, None; R. Gómez-Carmona, None; A. Avila-González, None; V. Villar-Calvo, None. Grant Identification: U de G matching funds 99-01
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 2002, Vol.43, 2675. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      JA Paczka, R Acuña-Maldonado, R Gómez-Carmona, A Avila-González, V Villar-Calvo; Prevalence of Blindness and Low Vision among Children in a Tertiary Center . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2002;43(13):2675.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Information regarding the prevalence of visual impairment among children is absent in Mexico and very scarce in Latin American nations. The primary aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of legal blindness and low vision in pediatric patients visiting a large multi-specialty center in Mexico. Method: 571 medical records of patients who were seen for the first time in the Pediatric Ophthalmology Service at Centro Medico de Occidente-IMSS from January 1 through July 31, 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Strict definitions of blindness and low vision were used. Results: Overall, patients had a mean age of 6.2 +/- 5.3 years. Prevalence values of bilateral legal blindness, unilateral blindness, bilateral low vision, and unilateral low vision were 3.1%, 8.4%, 1.6%, and 2.8%, respectively. Using an anatomic classification of blindness (both bilateral and unilateral), retinal diseases (n=32) were predominant, and were followed by conditions affecting the optic nerve (n=15), lens (n=12), and, cornea (n=8). Conclusion: This hospital-based study suggest that retinal diseases cause a considerable proportion of blindness in pediatric patients visiting a Mexican referral center. A population-based survey in Mexico is warranted in order to establish more reliable epidemiological figures of visual impairment among children.

Keywords: 354 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • 459 low vision • 620 visual acuity 
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