J F McClelland¹, K J Saunders², E Morrison¹, A Magee¹, A J Jackson¹
¹Royal Victoria Hospital, Ophthalmology, Belfast, United Kingdom; ²University of Ulster , School of Biomedical Science, Coleraine, United Kingdom
Background: Of 384,603 school age children in Northern Ireland, 700 receive specialist educational services for the visually impaired. 196 appear on the official blind and partially sighted register and currently 59 are educated at the region's only specialist school for visually impaired children (Jordanstown School).
Aims: To investigate the changing visual profile of children attending Jordanstown School over a 20 year period.
Methods: Between 1980 and 2000, 148 children were identified as having been students in year 1 (4-5 year olds) or year 8 (11-12 year olds) which are the introductory years to primary and secondary education. Data was obtained from school records and from the Regional Paediatric Low Vision Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. The child's age, primary and secondary ophthalmic diagnosis, visual acuity, use of low vision aids and educational status were recorded.
Results: Visual acuity did not change significantly over the 20-year period. Congenital cataracts were the most common primary ophthalmic diagnosis between 1980 and 1990 whereas albinism was the most common condition between 1991 and 2000. The third most common condition overall was retinopathy of prematurity (n=14). Notable also was the reduction in incidence of congenital glaucoma (7 cases 1980-1990, none 1991-2000).
Conclusion: During the last 20 years medical/surgical treatment has reduced the impact of treatable congenital conditions such as cataract and glaucoma on visual impairment to the extent that their incidence within this school has significantly decreased. Consequently children with non-treatable conditions (e.g. albinism) constitute a larger proportion of the school population.
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