Visual defects in cases of down's syndrome and in other mentally handicapped children

Abstract

The incidence of visual defects is much higher in children with Down's syndromethan in children with other mental defects. Serious structural defects were found in both groups but the greatest difference was in the incidence and nature of the refractive errors. The high incidence of hypermetropia in the group of children with miscellaneous mental defects is in line with previous studies of educationally subnormal and braindamaged children. The high incidence of myopia amongst those with Down's syndrome needs to be further investigated, taking into account their other congenital lesions. Some observations are made on the ophthalmic management of such children, particularly with regard to the advantage to them of more accurate vision, and the consequent need for refraction at an early age.