Vision Screening in Individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability
Kate Hanman, BOrth&OphthSc 1,2
Kaori Suda, BOrth&OphthSc 1
Konstandina Koklanis, PhD 1,3
Zoran Georgievski, BAppSc(Orth)(Hons) 1,4
1 Department of Clinical Vision Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
4 Department and Clinical School of Orthoptics, Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, Melbourne
A pilot vision screening of secondary school students with mild intellectual disability was conducted as part of the La Trobe University orthoptic clinical education program. The screening included a visual acuity assessment, cover testing, examination of ocular motility, stereo acuity and convergence near point. Two hundred and nineteen participants (n = 219) aged 12 – 18 years participated. Of these, 73 (33.3%) failed the screening on the basis of reduced vision, strabismus and or nystagmus. This suggests a great prevalence of ocular disorders in children with mild intellectual disability and highlights the importance of vision screening within this community.
