Ophthalmic assessment of physically disabled children attending a rehabilitation centre

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 397 children, ranging in age from 2 to 19 years, attending the Regency Park Centre for Young Disabled in Adelaide. The disorders represented included cerebral palsy, head injury, spina bifida, severe speech and/or language disorders, muscular dystrophy and a number of less common conditions. The incidence of significant ophthalmic abnormalities in this population was 51%, with the highest incidence being 69 and 62% among children with head injury and cerebral palsy, respectively. Children with severe speech and language disorders had an incidence of 24%. Overall, routine examinations revealed previously unsuspected significant eye abnormalities in 31% of the children. A complete ophthalmic examination should be part of the evaluation of all physically disabled children to ensure early identification and treatment of abnormalities, and to optimize rehabilitation.