Vision Profile and Ocular Characteristics of Special Olympics Athletes: Report from India

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Previous reports, albeit isolated, of vision and ocular screening of athletes with intellectual disability participating in the Special Olympics, UK, indicated high rates of refractive error and ocular morbidity; however, there have been no reports of similar sports events for this population from India. This study set out to evaluate the vision profile and ocular characteristics of athletes with intellectual disability attending the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes (SOLCIOE) event in 2012 in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, where a protocol-based ophthalmological assessment was performed by trained optometrists at a tertiary eye care center.

Results: Overall, 172 athletes (mean age 18.6 years, 70% male) with intellectual disability participated, and 138 (80%) were able to cooperate for complete or nearly complete vision and ocular assessment. A total of 56 (32%) had never had a previous vision or ocular health status examination. A total of 46 (32%) presented with low vision (World Health Organization definition <6/18 to 3/60 in the better eye), 21% needed a first or updated spectacle prescription, and 28% had significant ocular pathology as the cause of visual loss.

Conclusions: The proportions of refractive errors and ocular disorders in athletes with intellectual disability attending the SOLCIOE program in South India are similar to those reported for able-bodied school-aged children in urban and rural India. Like that of their able-bodied peers, the visual needs of children with intellectual disability are also not adequately being met.

KEYWORDS:

• Intellectual disability
• low vision
• refractive error
• Special Olympics
• visual impairment

Acknowledgments

The authors are extremely grateful to the program coordinator of Special Olympics Bharat (Mr. Rajasekhar), and all of the volunteers and carers who enthusiastically and willingly gave their valuable time for this event. We would like to thank the optometry students of the Basuch and Lomb School of Optometry, LV Prasad Eye Institute, and staff optometrists for their help in assisting with clinical procedures. We also acknowledge the valuable contribution of the staff ophthalmologists of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India for their timely help with detailed eye examination of the athletes. We would also like to thank the sponsors of Special Olympics Lions Club International and Special Olympics Bharat for making the event successful in Hyderabad, South India. We wish to thank the athletes for their cooperation without whom this study would not have been possible.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of this article.

Funding

This study was supported by the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India.