Visual Impairment In Children Research Articles

Expert consensus on the definition, diagnosis, assessment and intervention of cerebral visual impairment in children(2023)

Expert consensus on the definition, diagnosis, assessment and intervention of cerebral visual impairment in children(2023)

Temporal changes in incidence, prevalence and causes of childhood visual impairment - Learnings from 45 years with the National Danish Registry of Children with Visual Impairment.

The aim of the study was to describe the temporal changes in causes and prevalence of childhood visual impairment in Denmark based on the National Danish Registry of Children with Visual Impairment (NDRCVI). Annual reports on the NDRCVI since its establishment in 1979 were reviewed and data on the number of registered children and the causes for registration with a visual impairment were evaluated. The average annual incidence of childhood visual impairment in Denmark is 2.8 per 1000 live-born children and the prevalence of childhood visual impairment is 1.6 per 1000 children <18 years. Today, fewer children are severely visually impaired (visual acuity ≤6/60) at the time of registration (31.6% since 2010 vs. 51.1% in the 1980s). Cerebral visual impairment and optic nerve atrophy have remained common causes of childhood visual impairment whereas sequelae to retinopathy of prematurity have been almost eliminated as a cause. Systemic comorbidities are more common now in children with visual impairment (seen in 63.9% in the last decades vs. 44.6%in the 1980-ties). Whereas the prevalence of visual impairment has remained relatively stable over the years, the severity of visual impairment has improved, suggesting that more children will be able to live an active life supported by aids compensating vision loss. However, more children have systemic comorbidities in combination with their visual impairment suggesting that children with visual impairment face a life not only limited by the obstacles of poor vision. This calls for multidisciplinary management and support of affected children and families.

Description of oral hygiene habits in children with visual impairment in an ecuadorian school unit

People with visual impairment face difficulties in maintaining optimal oral hygiene, due to the possible lack of knowledge about proper oral cleaning techniques. The objective of the study was to describe oral hygiene habits in people with visual impairment in children with visual impairment in the "La Joya" Specialized Educational Unit in the city of Otavalo, Ecuador. The study had a descriptive, observational, prospective and cross-sectional approach. Two techniques were used: surveys, using questionnaires, and interviews, using the interview guide. The population included parents of children with disabilities, teaching and administrative staff, as well as personnel trained in the education of children with visual impairment. Simple random probability sampling was used for the survey, with a total of 51 people, and non-probability purposive sampling was used for the interview, identifying two key informants. The findings showed an inclination toward educational interventions focused on hearing and touch, with special emphasis on specialized teaching and the use of adapted materials, such as dental models and Braille booklets, to promote oral care. Financial support for dental treatment is a crucial factor. The results highlight the need for a pediatric dentist at the "La Joya" Specialized Educational Unit. It is concluded that there is a notable lack of attention to oral cleanliness in children with visual impairment, mainly due to poor knowledge and follow-up by educational personnel, health professionals and parents

Associations between unilateral amblyopia in childhood and cardiometabolic disorders in adult life: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the UK Biobank

Amblyopia is a common neurodevelopmental condition and leading cause of childhood visual impairment. Given the known association between neurodevelopmental impairment and cardiometabolic dysfunction in later life, we investigated whether children with amblyopia have increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders in adult life. This was a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of 126,399 United Kingdom Biobank cohort participants who underwent ocular examination. A subset of 67,321 of these received retinal imaging. Data analysis was conducted between November 1st 2021 and October 15th 2022. Our primary objective was to investigate the association between amblyopia and a number of components of metabolic syndrome and individual cardiometabolic diseases. Childhood amblyopia, dichotomised as resolved or persisting by adulthood, cardiometabolic disease and mortality were defined using ophthalmic assessment, self-reported, hospital admissions and death records. Morphological features of the optic nerve and retinal vasculature and sublayers were extracted from retinal photography and optical coherence tomography. Associations between amblyopia and cardiometabolic disorders as well as retinal markers were investigated in multivariable-adjusted regression models. Individuals with persisting amblyopia (n=2647) were more likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.16 (1.05; 1.28)), hypertensive (1.25 (1.13; 1.38)) and diabetic (1.29 (1.04; 1.59)) than individuals without amblyopia (controls, (n=18,481)). Amblyopia was also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.38 (1.11; 1.72)) and death (1.36 (1.15; 1.60)). On retinal imaging, amblyopic eyes had significantly increased venular caliber (0.29 units (0.21; 0.36)), increased tortuosity (0.11 units (0.03; 0.19)), but lower fractal dimension (-0.23 units (-0.30;-0.16)) and thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGC-IPL,-2.85 microns (-3.47;-2.22)). Unaffected fellow eyes of individuals with amblyopia also had significantly lower retinal fractal dimension (-0.08 units (-0.15;-0.01)) and thinner mGC-IPL (-1.14 microns (-1.74;-0.54)). Amblyopic eyes with a persisting visual deficit had smaller optic nerve disc height (-0.17 units (-0.25;-0.08)) and width (-0.13 units (-0.21;-0.04)) compared to control eyes. Although further research is needed to understand the basis of the observed associations, healthcare professionals should be cognisant of greater cardiometabolic dysfunction in adults who had childhood amblyopia. Differences in retinal features in both the amblyopic eye and the unaffected non-amblyopic suggest generalised versus local processes. Medical Research Council (MR/T000953/1) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Effective refractive error coverage and spectacle coverage among school children in Telangana, South India.

Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is one of the leading causes of childhood vision impairment. Increasing effective refractive error coverage (e-REC) is one of the main indicators of WHO's 2030 global eye health targets. The aim of this study is to estimate the e-REC and spectacle coverage among school children in Telangana, South India. School children aged 4-15 years in the study locations underwent vision screening using 6/12 tumbling E optotype by trained community eye health workers in the schools. Those failing the initial vision screening and/or found to be having eye conditions were referred to a nearby referral centre appropriately, where they underwent detailed eye examination. A total of 774,184 children were screened in schools of which 51.49% were boys. The mean age was 9.40 ± 3.27 years. The prevalence of URE was 1.44% (95%CI:1.41-1.46) of which myopia was 1.38% (95%CI: 1.35-1.41). In multivariate analysis, the risk of myopia was higher among older children (Adj.OR: 17.04; 95%CI: 14.64-19.85), those residing in urban areas (Adj.OR:3.05, 95%CI:2.60-3.57), those with disabilities (Adj.OR:2.61, 95%CI:2.00-3.39) and among girls (Adj.OR:1.30, 95%CI:1.25-1.35) (P < 0.001). The overall e-REC was 56.97% and the spectacle coverage was 62.83%. The need for interventions to improve e-REC to achieve 2030 global eye health target is eminent among children in this region. Improving refractive services through school eye health programs could aid in accelerating this process to achieve the target. Myopia being the most common type of RE, the risk factors included increasing age, urban location, and presence of disability.

New-Onset Vision Impairment in Children: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings by Age Groups.

Non-traumatic visual impairment is rare in the pediatric population, but early diagnosis and treatment of the cause is crucial to prevent long-term consequences affecting children's neurocognitive development. The authors aim to determine the most common causes of non-traumatic visual impairment in pediatric patients according to age groups by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Images of patients who underwent contrast-enhanced cranial and orbital MRI for new-onset visual impairment between June 2019 and June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. MRI findings were categorized as tumors, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, demyelinating disorders, infections, isolated optic neuritis, and others. The patients were grouped according to age as preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents. Demographic features of patients and MRI findings were collected and compared among age groups. One hundred seventeen of the 238 patients had pathologic MRI findings. The most common pathologies were tumors (26.4%), idiopathic intracranial hypertension (24.7%), demyelinating disorders (18.8%), infections (11.1%), and isolated optic neuritis (7.6%). Tumors (69.2%) in preschool children, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (36.3%) in schoolchildren, and demyelinating disorders (32.7%) in adolescents were the most common cause of vision impairment by age group. Children with acute vision impairment could have severe pathologies. Tumors in preschool children, idiopathic intracranial hypertension in schoolchildren, and demyelinating disorders in adolescents were the most common causes of new-onset vision impairment detected with MRI. Because of the difficulty of performing optimal ophthalmologic and neurologic examinations, especially in young children, cranial and orbital MRI should be considered to detect life-threatening pathologies.

Childhood vision impairment and blindness in West Africa: public health measures and implications for systemic health.

Childhood blindness is an issue of global health impact, affecting approximately 2 million children worldwide. Vision 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals previously identified childhood blindness as a key issue in the twentieth century, and while public health measures are underway, the precise etiologies and management require ongoing investigation and care, particularly within resource-limited settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. We systematically reviewed the literature on childhood blindness in West Africa to identify the anatomic classification and etiologies, particularly those causes of childhood blindness with systemic health implications. Treatable causes included cataract, refractive error, and corneal disease. Systemic etiologies identified included measles, rubella, vitamin A deficiency, and Ebola virus disease. While prior public health measures including vitamin A supplementation and vaccination programs have been deployed in most countries with reported data, multiple studies reported preventable or reversible etiologies of blindness and vision impairment. Ongoing research is necessary to standardize reporting for anatomies and/or etiologies of childhood blindness to determine the necessity of further development and implementation of public health measures that would ameliorate childhood blindness and vision impairment.

Visual impairment burden in retinopathy of prematurity: trends, inequalities, and improvement gaps.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of avoidable childhood visual impairment, and the increase in number and survival of premature infants may inflate its burden globally. We aimed to comprehensivelyassess the trends and inequalities in the burden of ROP-related visual impairment and to identify improvement gaps to facilitate appropriate actions in neonatal care systems.We obtained ROP data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. We employed joinpoint regression analysis to assess the trends of the burden of ROP-related visual impairment, measured by age-standardised prevalence rates, health equity analysis methods to evaluate cross-country burden inequalities, and data envelopment and stochastic frontier analyses to identify improvement gaps based on the development status, i.e., sociodemographic index (SDI).Between 1990 and 2019, the age-standardised prevalence rates of ROP-related visual impairmentsignificantly increased worldwide (average annual percentage change: 0.23 [95% confidenceinterval, 0.21-0.26] among males and 0.26 [0.25-0.27] among females), primarily in developed regions. Although significant SDI-related cross-country inequalities were identified, these reduced over time (slope index of inequality: -57.74 [-66.22 to -49.25] in 1990 to -29.68 [-38.39 to -20.97] in 2019; health concentration index: -0.11 [-0.13 to -0.09] in 1990 to -0.07 [-0.09 to -0.06] in 2019). Notably, some less-developed countries exhibited superior performance despite limited resources, whereas others with a higher SDI delivered lagging performance. Conclusion: The global burden of ROP-related visual impairment has steadily increased between 1990 and 2019, with disproportionate burden concentration among less-developed countries, requiring appropriate preventive and intervention measures. What is Known: • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of avoidable childhood visual impairment. • The prevalence of ROP is anticipated to increase due to the growing number of extremely premature infants. What is New: • The prevalence of ROP-related visual impairment has increased worldwide, primarily in developed regions, with declining but persisting cross-country inequalities. • The increasing burden of ROP-related visual impairment should be considered as part of global and national health agendas, requiring interventions with proven efficacy.

Prevalence and causes of ocular disorders and visual impairment among preterm children in Ethiopia

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, causes of ocular disorders and visual impairment among preterm children previously admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Addis Ababa,...

An analysis of visual functioning and cerebral visual impairments in children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the visual functioning of children with profound intellectuual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). A mixed methods study was performed, determining cross-sectional quantitative ophthalmological/orthoptic data, and qualitative observational data with a standardized research protocol (SRP) of 73 children with PIMD. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used for analyses of the data. Using ophthalmological data, 90.4% of the participants were found visually impaired. Based on the visual acuity (VA) testing, 49.6% of the participants had an impaired VA (&lt;0.3), and 15.3% could not be tested. Applying the SRP, profound cerebral visual impairment (CVI) was found in 43.8% of the participants; severe CVI in 28.8%; mild CVI in 13.7%; and no CVI in 12.3%. The correlation (Spearman’s rho) between CVI and severity of motor impairments was 0.61 ( p= .01). The results showed that visual impairment (VI) based on medical and ophthalmological data was present in nearly all of the participants with the highest prevalence among those with severe motor impairments. Providing specific information about visual functioning and the characteristics of CVI, using the SRP, may contribute to the individually adapted support of the development and partcipation of children with PIMD.

Raising awareness of Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) through the use of educational videos: One size does not fit all

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a leading cause of childhood visual impairment in Western countries. This complex condition impacts affected children’s ability to see and process visual information, affecting their learning and development. Although early intervention is beneficial, many children with CVI live with this condition without this being identified. This is, in part, due to unfamiliarity with the condition among health care and education professionals. In recent years, more information has become available, and attempts have been made to explain this condition in accessible formats, such as educational videos. For this study, students and professionals in health care and education were asked to rate their knowledge about CVI, to watch three short educational videos about CVI, and to complete a survey about the use of these videos as a tool to raise awareness and to increase understanding of the condition. The study shows that educational videos can be used effectively to raise awareness of CVI among educational and health care students and professionals. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a mix of understanding, confidence and learning styles across the key professionals supporting children with CVI. As a result, different videos are effective for different audiences and therefore no one size fits all.

Higher visual function deficits are independent of visual acuity measures in children with cerebral visual impairment.

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI), the leading cause of bilateral visual impairment in children, is often characterized by visual acuity (VA) loss and higher visual function deficits (HVFDs). However, the relationship between VA loss and HVFDs remains unknown. A previous study using the Higher Visual Function Question Inventory (HVFQI) demonstrated that normal VA did not preclude HVFDs. In this prospective controlled study of children with CVI, we examine the relationship between HVFDs and degrees of VA loss to refine our understanding of this relationship. We introduce two new indices-HVFD spectrum and severity-to provide a comprehensive view of how CVI affects the individual child and the entire cohort. We also performed an analysis to determine the effectiveness of the HVFQI in eliciting HVFDs and present a preliminary analysis of the relationship between HVFDs and age. The study participants included 59 children with CVI (age: 9.87 ± 3.93 years [mean ± SD]; binocular VA: 0.35 ± 0.34 log MAR.) and 120 neurotypical (NT) children with normal visual acuity (age: 8.7 ± 2.8 years; binocular VA: 0.14 ± 0.16 logMAR). Clinical history and notes independently confirmed the diagnosis of CVI. Parents were interviewed with the HVFQI, and their responses were recorded using a five-level Likert scale. Mann-Whitney U-test (MWU) determined the ability of HVFQI to distinguish between CVI and NT participants; Fisher's exact test (FET) and d-variable Hilbert-Schmidt independence criteria (dHSIC) assessed the independence between HVFDs and VA. The average spectrum (range 0-1) and severity (range 1-5) indices for CVI (spectrum: 0.65 ± 0.24, severity: 3.1 ± 0.77) and NT (spectrum: 0.12 ± 0.17, severity: 1.42 ± 0.49) were markedly different. MWU (p-value <0.00001) confirmed the ability of HVFQI to distinguish CVI from NT children for both indices. The FET reported a p-value of 0.202, which indicates that the data does not exhibit any relation between the HVFDs severity and VA. Analysis using dHSIC supports these findings (p-value 0.784). Based on these results, we urge that all children with suspected CVI need to be assessed for HVFDs in addition to VA measures. The HVFQI can potentially increase our understanding of the neural basis of visual perception, cognition, and visually guided action and lead us toward a conceptual model of CVI, translating to clinical practice improvements.

Prevalence of Astigmatism in Children Visiting Headache Clinic at a Hospital in Rural Karnataka

Background Vision plays an important role in childrenrsquos learning. Uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of avoidable visual impairment in children and can be corrected effectively with early diagnosis and treatment. Screening for vision in school children is essential as most of the refractive errors manifest after 10-12 years of age.Objectives To estimate the prevalence of astigmatism among children visiting the Headache clinic at a tertiary hospital Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Devanahalli Bangalore.Methods The visual acuity of 300 children who visited the Headache clinic was measured using a LogMAR Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution chart. The children with reduced visual acuity were checked for astigmatism using a streak retinoscope.Results The age of all the randomly enrolled 300 children ranged between 5 and 16 years. Astigmatism was recorded in 30 students 18 females 10.34 and 12 males 9.52. Conclusion The astigmatism prevalence among children who visited a tertiary Headache clinic in rural Karnataka was estimated as 10 in the present study.

Ocular Morbidities among Children in Nepal

Introduction: Eye health is an important and integral part of overall health, well-being and quality of life, particularly for school children. This review study was aimed to understand the ocular morbidities and status of visual impairment in children and adolescents in Nepal. Methods: An integrative literature review was done. This review included the studies conducted among Nepalese children on ocular morbidities, which were published in English language and full text available. Results: Ocular morbidity was reported for different group of children including the children with special conditions, disadvantaged children as well as children in schools and communities in different parts of the country. Refractive error was the most prevalent condition noted in the review. Factors associated with ocular morbidities in Nepalese children were age, sex, type of school, area of residence, geographical location, environmental factors, and genetic and systemic illnesses. Many of the visual impairment and blindness are preventable. Conclusion: This review highlighted the need for regular eye health program to identify and address causes of ocular morbidity and vision impairment in children.

Unleashing the power of Virtual Reality to manage LAZY EYE-A silent public health problem: A case study from India

Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye," is a childhood vision disorder characterized by impaired coordination between the brain and the eye, resulting in decreased vision in one eye. It is not caused by any structural abnormalities in the eye but rather by a lack of effective coordination between the eye and brain during the crucial period of visual development in early childhood.(1) Amblyopia is a significant global public health issue, with an estimated prevalence of 1-5% of the global population according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Developing countries face a higher burden of amblyopia due to limited access to early diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, amblyopia can result in permanent vision loss and impairment, negatively impacting an individual's quality of life, educational achievements, and career prospects.(1) A 2017 study explored the prevalence and impact of amblyopia and strabismus in Indian children. The study found a prevalence rate of 1.67% for amblyopia among children aged 5-15 years, with a higher occurrence in rural areas compared to urban areas.(2) In another study conducted by Gupta et al. found the percentage of amblyopia was 8.6% (n=31) among 5-15 years children in uttrakhand.(3) Another study conducted by Ganekal et al. revealed the prevalence of amblyopia was 1.1% (n?=?44) among 5-15 years of students.(4) The research emphasized the importance of enhanced awareness, early detection, and improved access to suitable treatment options to alleviate the burden of amblyopia in India. Furthermore, the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) conducted a study in 2019 titled "AIOS Guidelines for Amblyopia Management." This study aimed to provide evidence-based guidelines for managing amblyopia in India. It highlighted the lack of awareness and limited availability of eye care services in certain regions, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia. The guidelines emphasized the significance of early screening, timely intervention, and appropriate treatment approaches to prevent long-term visual impairment in children.(5)

On the structure of eye diseases in children leading to blindness or low vision in various countries of the world

The review presents differences in the nosological structure of ophthalmic pathology leading to childhood blindness and low vision in different countries. Worldwide, 1.4 million children are blind, about three quarters of whom live in the poorest regions of Africa or Asia. In lowincome countries, the congenital cataract is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in children, while retinopathy of prematurity is more common in middle-income countries. Uncorrected refractive errors both in children and adults, remain a major cause of visual impairment in all countries. The development of new technologies and quality medical care impacts the structure of blindness and low vision causes, as well as their geographical specificities. The analysis showed that much effort is required from large-scale state programs of prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of children with socially significant eye diseases.

Generation of a gene-corrected isogenic iPSC cell line from an X-linked retinoschisis patient with a hemizygous mutation c.304C > T (p.R102W) in RS1 gene

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the most common retinal genetic diseases with progressive visual impairment in childhood affecting males. It is manifested with macular and/or peripheral schisis in neural retinas with no effective treatment. Previously, we successfully generated a human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an XLRS patient carrying the hemizygous RS1 c. 304C > T (p.R102W) mutation. Here, we corrected the c.304C > T mutation in the RS1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate an isogenic control. This cell line is valuable for the study of XLRS.

Prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among school-going children in district Baramulla, Kashmir: A cross sectional study.

Uncorrected refractive error is one of the most important causes of visual impairment worldwide. Addressing childhood vision impairment (VI) is one of the main goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat blindness strategies. To ascertain the prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among children aged 10 to 16 years in Baramulla district, Kashmir. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 680 school children during an eye camp under the school health program of the national program for control of blindness. The screening was conducted in four schools in Baramulla district, Kashmir. The schools were selected using the non-probability convenient sampling technique. A total of 680 school children from classes sixth to tenth aged 10-16 years participated in the study. Out of 680 students, 545 (80%) had normal vision, 97 (14%) had impaired visual acuity ranging between 6/9 and 6/24, and 38 (6%) had severe VI ranging from 6/36 to 6/60. Among the various types of refractive errors, myopia was the most prevalent affecting 54 children. Age distribution of refractive errors showed myopia to be more prevalent in the age group 13-14 years (16, 14 cases), hypermetropia was more prevalent in the age group 14-15 years (10, 8 cases), and astigmatism 5 cases in the age group 14-15 years. The study provides useful and baseline data about the refractive error amongst the school children of the Baramulla district. A larger study needs to be conducted in all schools of the state to get a clear picture of RE and other eye-related problems to detect vision problems earlier.

Individual, family, and environmental determinants of vision-related quality of life of children and young people with visual impairment.

Childhood visual impairment can have a significant impact on an individual's development. To improve clinical care and develop appropriate psychosocial interventions of these patients, it is necessary to understand the contributing and modifiable factors that both identify individuals in greater need and could be targeted in interventions. Here we investigate the broader individual, family, and environmental factors associated with vision-related quality of life (VQoL) of children and young people with visual impairment (CYP-VI). Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from September 2014 to May 2017 to develop and validate two vision-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for CYP-VI. Patients were recruited from 22 hospitals in the United Kingdom and were aged 7-18 years with visual impairment as per WHO criteria. Participants self-completed the two PROMs, VQoL and Functional Vision Questionnaires. Clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records. Their carers provided information on family sociodemographic backgrounds. Associations between the VQoL scores and other factors were examined using Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and quantile regression models. The sample consisted of 152 CYP-VI (67 females). Better VQoL was significantly associated with better functional vision overall (rSpearman = -0.52), parent-reported absence of additional chronic conditions (dCohen = 0.46), attending mainstream (versus other) school (dCohen = 0.44), higher socio-economic status (rSpearman = 0.17) and higher parental education level (rSpearman = 0.20). No other investigated factors were significantly associated with VQoL. The final quantile regression model included functional vision scores and the presence of additional health condition. Variation in self-reported VQoL in CYP-VI can be partly accounted for by factors relating to the clinical status of the affected child and, more importantly, by non-health-related factors. This needs to be considered in clinical practice when assessing vision-specific outcomes and providing support to CYP-VI, as well as in the development of future interventions.

Evaluating the Quantity and Quality of Health Economic Literature in Blinding Childhood Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review.

Evidence on the socioeconomic burden associated with childhood visual impairment, severe visual impairment and blindness (VI/SVI/BL) is needed to inform economic evaluations of existing and emerging interventions aimed at protecting or improving vision. This study aimed to evaluate the quantity and quality of literature on resource use and/or costs associated with childhood VI/SVI/BL disorders. PubMed, Web of Science (Ovid), the National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluation Database and grey literature were searched in November 2020. The PubMed search was rerun in February 2022. Original articles reporting unique estimates of resource use or cost data on conditions resulting in bilateral VI/SVI/BL were eligible for data extraction. Quality assessment (QA) was undertaken using the Drummond checklist adapted for cost-of-illness (COI) studies. We identified 31 eligible articles, 27 from the peer-reviewed literature and four from the grey literature. Two reported on resource use, and 29 reported on costs. Cerebral visual impairment and optic nerve disorders were not examined in any included studies, whereas retinopathy of prematurity was the most frequently examined condition. The quality of studies varied, with economic evaluations having higher mean QA scores (82%) compared to COI studies (77%). Deficiencies in reporting were seen, particularly in the clinical definitions of conditions in economic evaluations and a lack of discounting and sensitivity analyses in COI studies. There is sparse literature on resource use or costs associated with childhood visual impairment disorders. The first step in addressing this important evidence gap is to ensure core visual impairment outcomes are measured in future randomised control trials of interventions as well as cohort studies and are reported as a discrete health outcome.