Cerebral Palsy for the Pediatric Eye Care Team—Part 1: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Systemic Findings

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term used to describe a spectrum of neurological deficits resulting from damage to the immature brain. It is a chronic, nonprogressive motor disorder that affects posture, muscle tone, and movement, and therefore commonly results in ophthalmologic abnormalities such as strabismus and eye movement disorders. A basic understanding of CP and its effects will assist the clinician in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of associated ophthalmologic disorders. This first, in a series of three articles, reviews the definition, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and classification of CP, as well as current management of the postural and motor effects. Results include a retrospective review of 131 consecutive cases of cerebral palsy referred to the Department of Ophthalmology by the Cerebral Palsy Center at the St. Louis Children's Hospital. The second article in the series will present the frequency, diagnosis, and management of the ocular motor deficits associated with CP. Article three will discuss the evaluation of visual acuity, management of decreased vision, and the frequency and type of binocular vision deficits associated with CP.