A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for the blind in Myanmar

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the causes of visual impairment and blindness amongst children in schools for the blind in Myanmar; to identify the avoidable causes of visual impairment and blindness; and to provide spectacles, low vision aids, orientation and mobility training and ophthalmic treatment where indicated.

Methods: Two hundred and eight children under 16 years of age from all 7 schools for the blind in Myanmar were examined and the data entered into the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Examination Record for Childhood Blindness (WHO/PBL ERCB).

Results: One hundred and ninety nine children (95.7%) were blind (BL = Visual Acuity [VA] < 3/60 in the better eye) and 3 had severe visual impairment (SVI = VA < 6/60 to 3/60 in the better eye). Most children had corneal abnormalities as the major anatomical site of SVI/BL (100, 49.5%), however the cause of SVI/BL was unknown in the majority (88, 43.6%). Measles keratitis was the commonest identifiable cause (17.4%) and 88 children had avoidable causes of SVI/BL (43.6%). Nearly 16% of children required an optical device and 24.2% required medical attention, with a potential for visual improvement through intervention in 15.8%.

Conclusion: Nearly half of the children in schools for the blind in Myanmar had potentially avoidable causes of SVI/BL. With measles being both the commonest identifiable and commonest avoidable cause, the data supports the need for a measles immunization campaign. There is also a need for a dedicated pediatric eye care center with regular ophthalmology visits to the schools, and improved optometric, low vision and orientation and mobility services in Myanmar.

KEYWORDS::

• Children
• Blindness
• Myanmar
• Survey

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Lions Australia who donated a range of LVAs and COIL and European Eyewear who donated a range of spectacles for visually impaired children, and Guide Dogs Association who provided white canes for blind children. The authors would also like to thank the principal, staff and children at each of the schools for their help and cooperation during the survey.

The Vision Myanmar Fund of the South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Luxottica Community I-Care Australia kindly funded the expenses associated with undertaking the survey.

Declaration of interest:  The authors report no conflict of interest.