The Causes of Visual Acuities Injury at the Quanzhou Blind School

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the causes of blindness and residual vision at the Quanzhou Blind School and provide information to help prevent childhood blindness and low vision. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of all the students (n=126) at the Quanzhou Blind School. All students received routine ophthalmology examinations. A detailed individual-level questionnaire was administered that addressed the causes of blindness and low vision. Results: Among the 126 students, 66 had low vision, and 60 were blind. The major causes of blindness were retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (23.3%), corneal degeneration (13.3%), optic nerve atrophy (13.3%), and congenital glaucoma (11.7%). The major causes of low vision were congenital cataract (27.3%), nystagmus (13.7%), optic nerve atrophy (10.6%), and corneal degeneration (9.1%). Conclusions: Congenital or hereditary diseases were the leading causes of vision loss at the Quanzhou Blind School. ROP was the principle cause of blindness. Most low vision cases were due to congenital cataract. Key words: blind school; low vision; pathogeny