Assessment of Functional Vision among Blind School Students in South India Maraiah Pradeep Kumar1,,*, Karimsab Dadapeer2 1Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, Karnataka, India 2Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan-573201, Karnataka, India (*Corresponding author) email id: *pradip_smg@rediffmail.com; 2drdadapeer@gmail.com
Abstract Background: Childhood blindness is a major health problem in India in terms of emotional, social and economical cost not only to the child but also to family, society and country. Identifying the causes for childhood blindness is of utmost priority because many of these causes are either treatable or preventable. Also many studies have shown that students in blind schools have some functional vision which can be utilised. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the anatomical causes for blindness in blind school students and also to identify those who have functional vision for recommending appropriate optical correction. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in Shimoga, Karnataka, examining students enrolled in a blind school for anatomical cause of blindness using the World Health Organization (WHO) standard guidelines. Functional vision was assessed in each student by carrying out a single test of independent navigation. Results were interpreted using the standard statistical analysis techniques. Results: A total of 90 students were examined; their mean age was 13.79 years (ranging from 5 to 21 years), with a standard deviation of 3.47 years. Of these, 57 were males (63.3%) and 33 were females (36.7%). A total of 92.2% were blind since birth. A history of consanguineous marriage was available in 52.2% of the students. Anatomical causes of visual loss included retinal causes 23 (25.6%), followed by corneal 22 (24.4%), whole globe 12 (13.3%), lens 14 (15.6%), optic nerve 6 (6.7%), buphthalmos 4 (4.4%), uvea 7 (7.8%) and refractive errors 2 (2.2%). Among the 90 students evaluated, 38 (42.2%) had functional vision. Conclusion: Avoidable blindness is still a major public concern. Functional vision assessment among the blind school students is highly yielding. Top Keywords Blindness, Functional vision, Retinoscopy, Low vision aids, Blind school, Students, Avoidable blindness. Top |