Medically unexplained visual symptoms in children and adolescents: An indicator of abuse or adversity

Abstract

Purpose: To highlight abuse and adversity in childhood as an association of medically unexplained symptoms. Methods: Case series. Results: Two young adults and one child (all female) are described with medically unexplained impaired vision and diplopia, which on further investigation were found to be associated with abuse or adversity, and in one case was followed by the development of further unexplained symptoms. Conclusions: Ophthalmologists dealing with children and young people need to ensure that child abuse and adversity are considered as potential underlying associations when dealing with patients with medically unexplained symptoms. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.