Epidemiology of Childhood Blindness and Low Vision in Kinshasa–democratic Republic of the Congo

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and low vision in children in Kinshasa.

Methods: A study was conducted to carry out a survey in 96 health areas in Kinshasa city. Children aged less than 16 years old with supposed visual problems (Visual acuity < 6/18) were identified by volunteers and surveyors in households and were thereafter examined by two ophthalmologists. Prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision were determined. For each child, anatomic sites of abnormality, etiologic factors and avoidable causes responsible for visual impairment were considered.

Results: Thirty-six children with bilateral visual impairment were identified, including 10 cases of blindness and 26 cases of low vision. The prevalence of blindness and low vision was, respectively, 0.08% [95% CI 0.04–0.14] and 0.19% [95% CI 0.13–0.28].Optic nerve and whole globe were the main anatomical sites responsible for blindness in, respectively, in 30% and 20%. Optic nerve atrophy and glaucoma were the leading causes of childhood blindness. The globe apparently normal (50%), uvea (12%) and cornea (12%) were the most common anatomic site responsible for low vision with refractive errors (42%) and uveitis (12%) as the main causes. Childhood and hereditary factors accounted for, respectively, 16.7% and 13.9% of low vision cases. Visual impairment was due to avoidable causes in 69.4% of children.

Conclusion: Damage to the optic nerve and refractive errors were respectively the maincauses of blindness and low vision among children in Kinshasa.

KEYWORDS:

• Epidemiology
• childhood
• blindness
• low vision
• Kinshasa
• DRC

Acknowledgments

We thank the Lions Club International Foundation which funded this study and the authorities of the Congolese National Vision and Eye Health Program for their support.

Declaration of interest statement

None of the following authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission. This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Sight First Research Grant Program of the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) [grant number: SFP1946/UND].