Study of oculars alterations in children with visual deficiency assisted at Precocious Intervention Center of the Institute for Blind People of Bahia state (CIP/ICB)

Abstract

This study search contributes to the knowledge of the main causes of low vision in children admitted at (Institute for the Blind People of Bahia State, Centre for Early Treatment). The investigation was developed by transversal study with random selection of 100 children under the age of 6, assisted at “Centro de Intervenção Precoce do Instituto de Cegos da Bahia” (CIP), for investigation to register genetic, pregnancy and post-natal history, ophthalmologic diagnosis and psychosocial assessment. The most frequent cause of visual deficiency was optic atrophy (37%) associated with pregnancy and post-natal complications. The diagnoses were classified as neurological (45%), intrinsic ocular diseases (32%), multiple malformations with morphologic and functional ocular disorders (16%) and disorders associated with metabolic diseases (7%). With regard to etiologic aspects, it was predominant multifatorial or associated with environmental damage conditions (66%), followed by monogenic (26%) and chromosomal (2%) causes; the remaining (6%) consisting of causes of idiopathic nature. The study emphasises the importance of the implantation of public health measures for prevention of visual disorders. It is recommended that reference centers for early treatment include genetic counselling in their prevention programs.