Background:Ocular problems are more common in children with hearing problems than in normal children. Neglected visual impairment could aggravate educational and social disability.Aim:To detect and treat visual impairment, if any, in hearing-impaired children.Setting and Design:Observational, clinical case series of hearing-impaired children in schools providing special education.Materials and Methods:Hearing-impaired children in selected schools underwent detailed visual acuity testing, refraction, external ocular examination and fundoscopy. Ocular motility testing was also performed. Teachers were sensitized and trained to help in the assessment of visual acuity using Snellen's E charts. Refractive errors and squint were treated as per standard practice.Statistical Analysis:Excel software was used for data entry and SSPS for analysis.Results:The study involved 901 hearing-impaired students between four and 21 years of age, from 14 special education schools. A quarter of them (216/901, 24%) had ocular problems. Refractive errors were the most common morbidity 167(18.5%), but only 10 children were using appropriate spectacle correction at presentation. Fifty children had visual acuity less than 20/80 at presentation; after providing refractive correction, this number reduced to three children, all of whom were provided low-vision aids. Other common conditions included strabismus in 12 (1.3%) children, and retinal pigmentary dystrophy in five (0.6%) children.Conclusion:Ocular problems are common in hearing-impaired children. Screening for ocular problems should be made mandatory in hearing-impaired children, as they use their visual sense to compensate for the poor auditory sense.

Recess-resect procedures had better outcome as compared to bilateral recess procedures, but it was not statistically significant. Clinical audit helped maintain and improve good outcome over the 3 years.

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Purpose To compare the visual outcomes, predictability and rotational stability following implantation of Eyecryl toric versus TECNIS toric intraocular lenses. Methods This retrospective study included 100 eyes of 78 eligible patients who underwent phacoemulsification followed by implantation of either Eyecryl Toric IOL or TECNIS Toric IOL (n = 50 eyes in each group), using an intraoperative image-guided marker less system. All toric IOL implantations were performed under balanced salt solution. At 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent refraction, residual astigmatism, and rotational stability of the toric IOL was evaluated and compared. Rotational stability was assessed using ray tracing.Results Mean age of the participants was 67.8 ± 9.26 years in Eyecryl toric group and 64 ± 11 years in TECNIS toric group. The mean pre-op corneal astigmatism was 1.75 ± 0.62 D and 2.00 ± 0.71 D in the Eyecryl and TECNIS group, respectively (p = 0.07). At 2 weeks and at 6 months post-op, there was no statistically significant difference between the UDVA, CDVA, and residual astigmatism between the two groups (p \ 0.05). Mean post-operative toric IOL rotation was 3.94 ± 2.27 degrees in the Eyecryl Toric group, and 4.44 ± 2.77 degrees, in the TECNIS Toric group, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.32). One IOL in the Eyecryl group and two IOLs in the TECNIS group required re-positioning for significant post-op rotation at 1 week post-op. Conclusion At 6 months, both Eyecryl toric and TECNIS toric IOLs showed comparable post-operative outcomes in terms of UDVA, CDVA, residual astigmatism and rotational stability.

Background:We compared vision and quality of life (VQL) of children aged 5-15 years and operated for unilateral and bilateral cataract between 2008 and 2010 in western India.Materials and Methods:In this cohort study, ophthalmologists assessed vision, anterior and posterior segment of eyes with cataract. Children completed a functional vision questionnaire (LVP-FVQ). Follow up at 6 months after surgery included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), FVQ and eye assessment. The improvement of BCVA and quality of life were compared in group of unilateral and bilateral cataract.Result:A total of 20 (70%) bilateral and 7 (39%) unilateral cataract were operated within 1 month of detection. All 48 eyes with bilateral cataract were congenital and 12 (67%) unilateral cataract were traumatic. Among bilateral group, 27 eyes [56.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 44.4-72.2)] and in unilateral group 11 eyes [61.1% (95% CI 38.6-83.6)] had vision ≥ 20/60 at 6 months follow up. The visual gain was significantly higher in children who were operated between 1 month and 1 year of detection (adjusted Odds ratio (OR) = 15.6 P = 0.03). Positive impact on VQL in bilateral group was noted in 50%, 27%, and 13% children for subscale of distant vision, near vision, and field of vision, respectively. There was positive impact in these subscales among children with unilateral cataract. Thirty percent eyes with bilateral cataract and 22% of eyes with unilateral cataract improved their vision. Surgery within 1 month of cataract was significant predictor of improved vision (OR = 16.6 P = 0.02).Conclusion:Vision and VQL improved in children with unilateral and bilateral cataract. However, it was better 6 months following surgery in children with bilateral cataract than in children with unilateral cataract.