Visual Function of Egyptian Children with Low Vision and the Demographic Determinants

AIMS: To determine whether the LV Prasad-Functional Vision Questionnaire (LVP-FVQ) could be used to assess self-reported visual function and quality of visual life in Egyptian school aged children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The LVP-FVQ was used to assess the quality of visual function in school-age children. All subjects were students at the time of assessment. Subjects underwent a visual function assessment that included distance and near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision and visual field examination where possible. Data analysis were for both descriptive and inference statistics. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Fifty children aged 11.28 ± 3.5 years (range, 5 years to 18 years) with moderate-to-severe visual impairment most of their lives were enrolled. Twenty-two subjects (44%) had albinism, 18 (36%) subjects had hereditary retinal dystrophy, 6 (12%) subjects had cone dystrophy, 2 (4%) subjects had bilateral amblyopia and 2 (4%) subjects had congenital coloboma without other disabilities. The four most difficult tasks were related to the following daily activities alluded to in the questionnaire such as reading a textbook at arms length, copying from the blackboard, seeing somebody across the road and identifying colors. There was no statistically significant association between the demographic variables and the level of visual functioning, sex, age, type of school, family history or consanguinity (P > 0.05 for all variables). CONCLUSION: LVP-FVQ can be used to screen Egyptian children with visual impairment. Input and integration of the parents and the school teachers to evaluate the child s behavior at home and the school is essential to developing a balanced questionnaire.