Prevalence of refractive errors among children aged 0 to 5 years old with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim: To highlight the prevalence of refractive errors in children with cerebral palsy aged 0 to 5 years.

Material and methods: We conducted a single center, retrospective, case control study from March 2017 to August 2018. Medical records of all children aged 0 to 5 years with cerebral palsy were included in our study. Variables studied were: age, gender, type of refractive error (hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism).

Results: We collected 65 patient files, 17 cases and 48 controls. We selected 72 boys (55.4%) and 58 girls (44.6%). In decrease order hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism were found respectively at the prevalence of 64.7% (22/34), 17.6% (6/34), 7.6% (6/34) inside the case group and 45.8% (44/96), 24% (23/96), 17.7% (17/96) inside the control group. Their distribution was the same in the both groups (p=0.09). No case of emmetropia was found in case group.

Conclusion: Refractive errors are found in all children with cerebral palsy. Hyperopia was the most common refractive error.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, refractive errors, children