Optic nerve hypoplasia in children and adolescents; prevalence, ocular characteristics and behavioural problems

• Purpose: To report prevalence, ocular characteristics and coexisting behavioural problems in children and adolescents with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), which is a common cause of visual impairment in children in western countries, often associated with neurological or endocrinological problems and where autism has been reported in severe cases with blindness. Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study of patients <20 years of age who had been diagnosed with ONH and lived in the county of Stockholm in December 2009. Ophthalmological assessments including fundus photographs with optic disc analyses were made. A questionnaire was used to screen for behaviour and development. Results: The prevalence of ONH in all living children <18 years of age in Stockholm was 17.3/100 000 with a prevalence of visual impairment (<0.3) of 3.9/100 000. In total, 66 patients, median age 9.3 years (0.6-19.4), 36 with bilateral and 30 with unilateral ONH, were included in the current study; 53 were re-examined clinically, group A, and 13 agreed to retrospective analyses of existing medical records, group B. Analyses of the optic discs were made in fundus photographs from 53 patients comparing a semi-automated (Retinal Size Tool) and a manual method (Zeki). There was a strong curvilinear correlation (rS = -0.91 p < 0.0001 for both eyes). Behavioural problems were more common (p < 0.05) in bilateral ONH. Conclusion: Opticnerve hypoplasia is a common ocular malformation with a prevalence of 17.3/100 000 children and adolescents <18 years of age in Stockholm. Unilateral ONH seems as common as bilateral. 

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

behaviour

disc area

optic nerve hypoplasia

prevalence

vårdvetenskap

Care Sciences

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)