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Abstract

A national study was conducted in children attending six schools for the blind in Malaysia to identify the anatomical site and underlying causes of blindness (BL) and severe visual impairment (SVI), with a view to determine the potentially preventable and treatable causes so that appropriate control measures can be implemented in the future. The standardized clinical examination of eyes was performed and the findings were recorded on the WHO Prevention of Blindness Programme eye examination record form for children with blindness and low vision. A total of 358 children aged between 7 and 17 years were examined, of whom 332 (92.7%) were blind or severely visually impaired. The results relate to these 332 children. Lens was the major anatomical site (22.3%) of visual loss followed by retina (20.8%), whole globe (17.2%), cornea (15.1%), optic nerve (8.7%) and uvea (5.1%). Glaucoma was responsible for BL/SVI in 7.2% and others in 3.6% of cases. Hereditary diseases were responsible for visual loss in 29.5%, intrauterine factors in 4.5%, perinatal factors in 9% and childhood factors in 7.8% of cases. However, the aetiology was unknown in 49.1% of cases which included congenital anomalies of the globe. Childhood cataract and corneal scarring are major treatable causes of BL/SVI that can benefit from future intervention strategies. Perinatal screening for intrauterine factors and hereditary eye diseases, and appropriate interventional therapy will help in reducing the prevalence of childhood blindness.

Causes of permanent severe visual impairment and blindness among Jordanian population

“…A high proportion of inherited childhood blindness was reported in studies from Indonesia (31.9%),[ 22 ] Sri Lanka (35%),[ 23 ] and Malaysia (29.5%). [ 24 ]…”

Reading Performance and Compensatory Head Posture in Infantile Nystagmus after Null Zone Training

“…A total of 18 participants aged between 13 and 18 years of age were recruited and randomly assigned into spectacle ( n = 9) and null zone group ( n = 9). The sample size of the participants in this study was calculated using Cochran’s formula (1977) [24] based on nystagmus prevalence, p , of 0.6% in Malaysia [3]. Sample size=z2p(1−p)Δ2=1.962(0.006)(1−0.006)0.052=9…”

“…In Malaysia, infantile nystagmus (15%) was reported to be the second after congenital cataract (17%) of major causes of vision impairment in children [2]. It was diagnosed in 0.06% of special school children aged between 7 and 17 years of age in Malaysia [3]. Infantile nystagmus is an involuntary, bilateral, conjugate, and rhythmic oscillation of the eyes present at birth to 6 months of age [4].…”

Isu serta Cabaran Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Murid Berpenglihatan Terhad dalam kalangan Guru di Sekolah Rendah

“…Namun begitu, menurut Zainal et al (2002) ciri-ciri kanak-kanak berpenglihatan terhad ini perlu dikesan lebih awal. Ini kerana masalah penglihatan terhad ini adalah punca utama masalah buta yang disebabkan oleh penyakit kontigenial dan keturunan (Reddy & Tan, 2001).…”