EPOS

European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society

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Visual acuity and visual perception in Children with operated Hydrocephalus

Andersson Susann, Aring Eva, Persson Eva-Karin, Lindquist Barbro, Uvebrant Paul, Hellstr Ann
¹Department of Ophthalmology, The Queen Silvia Children, ²Departement of Peadiatrics, The Queen Silvi, ³Habilitation Center, Halmstad Sweden

Purpose:Earlier studies have shown a variety of disturbances in visual function, in children with hydrocephalus. Anatomically, the visual pathways run along the lateral ventricles. Lesions in this region e.g. periventricular leukomalacia are associated with visual perceptual disturbances. The purpose of this study was to describe the visual function including visual perception in a population based study on children with operated hydrocephalus. Methods:All children with operated hydrocephalus with or without myelomeningocele born (1989-1993) in the western part of Sweden were invited to the present study (n=92). 75 of the invited children were examined by a multidisciplinary team including paediatric neurologist, ophthalmologist, orthoptist, neuropsychologist and neuroradiologist. A comprehensive ophthalmological examination including e.g. visual acuity, orthoptic examination and a questionnaire regarding visual perception was performed. Results:16% of the children (n=75) were visually impaired (visual acuity <0.3), 35% had a mildly reduced visual acuity (0.3-0.8), and 49% had visual acuity of 0.8 or more. One, of the 75 included children, could not co-operate. Fifty-two percent of the children had significant refractive errors. Most commonly hyperopia. Fifty-two percent of the children had visual perceptual problems according to the questionnaire. Sixteen percent of these children had a visual acuity of 0.8 or higher. The neuropsycholocical data will be presented in relation to the visual functional data. Conclusion:A large number of the children, in the present study, had a low visual acuity, significant refractive errors and visual perceptual problems. We would like to stress that a normal visual acuity does not rule out significant visual problems.