Visual impairment in adult people with intellectual disability: Literature review

Abstract

The present paper reviews studies on the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in adults with intellectual disability (ID). Every publication describes an alarming prevalence of blindness and VI. Cataract and keratoconus were common. Many cases of poor distance vision were treatable by ordinary spherical or astigmatic glasses, but few people had had such prescriptions. Elderly residents in community and institutional care often did not receive glasses for near vision. Professional assessments disclosed higher prevalences of VI than questionnaires mailed to the care personnel. The prevalence of VI increased dramatically with the severity of ID and with age. Regular professional assessment of eye disorders, visual acuity and refraction are warranted in residents in both hospital and community care.

Impact of Additional Disabilities on Adaptive Behavior and Support Profiles for People With Intellectual Disabilities

“…First, the number of disabilities reported was established using caregiver reports rather than screening tools or clinical assessment. However, sizeable discrepancies and underreporting have been demonstrated using this approach (Carvill, 2001;Kerr et al, 2003;Vlaskamp, 2005;Warburg, 2001). Consequently, the actual number of disabilities present may have been higher than reported here, which would impact on analyses using both the number of disabilities and also the CSS.…”

“…In addition to higher incidence rates, each of these categories has been reported to be more prevalent for individuals with more marked levels of intellectual impairment (Christianson et al, 2002;Evenhuis, Theunissen, Denkers, Verschuure, & Kemme, 2001;Jacobson & Janicki, 1983;McDermott et al, 2005;McGrother et al, 2006;Murphy et al, 1995;Warburg, 2001;Zijlstra & Vlaskamp, 2005), although there have been conflicting results reported regarding the relationship between prevalence of psychiatric disabilities and severity of intellectual impairment. Thus, although an increase in prevalence of psychiatric disabilities with increased severity of intellectual impairment has been reported (Cooper, Smiley, Morrison, Williamson, & Allan, 2007;Whitaker & Read, 2006), others have found the opposite pattern (Crews, Bonaventura, & Rowe, 1994;Holden & Gitlesen, 2004;Iverson & Fox, 1989;La Malfa, Notarelli, Hardoy, Bertelli, & Cabras, 1997;Slone, Durrheim, Kaminer, & Lachman, 1999); and yet other researchers have reported no increased risk of psychiatric disability associated with degree of intellectual impairment (Stromme & Diseth, 2000).…”

Prevalence of visual impairment in adults with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands: cross-sectional study

“…1 However, it is still not known whether the whole ID-population, including young people with mild ID, by far the largest subgroup, has a higher risk of visual impairment, or whether this risk is limited to specific subgroups. Early investigations either covered small or selected adult groups or were collected from (incomplete) registrations.…”

Sensory impairment and intellectual disability

“…According to the World Health Organization, a corrected visual acuity for the best eye of <0.3 or a visual field of below 30º (normal visual field is 180º) are indica tors of visual impairment, and blindness is defined as a visual acuity of <0.05 or a visual field of <10º (van den Broek 2006). The prevalence of visual impairment is approximately 0.5-2% in the general population but is at least 8.5 times higher in people with intellectual disability (Warburg 2001 …”