Spectrum of visual disorders in a population-based cerebral palsy cohort

Abstract

Background: Children with cerebral palsy are known to be at increased risk for visual impairment.

Methods: In a population-based sample drawn from a geographically defined registry, the profile of visual impairment in children with cerebral palsy was investigated.

Results: Close to half (49.8%; 106/213) had a visual impairment. The majority of these individuals had strabismus (55.7%; 59/106) and a slightly lesser fraction had refractive errors (20.7%; 22/106) or severe visual loss (18.9%; 20/106). The vast majority of children with severe visual loss had spastic quadriplegia (83%; 17/20) or were nonambulatory (i.e., Gross Motor Function Classification Scale IV/V, 80%; 16/20).

Conclusions: Knowledge of this profile will assist practitioners to heighten their appreciation of potential visual disturbances in certain subsets of children with cerebral palsy.

Keywords: cerebral palsy; registry; risk factors; visual disorders.