Research

Magnitude and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness Among Children Attending Pediatric Eye Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, 2010

  • The purpose of this thesis was to determine the magnitude and causes of visual impairment and blindness in children attending pediatric eye clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar essalaam Tanzania.

  • This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 232 children aged 15 years and below attending pediatric eye clinic at the MNH.

  • Of 201 children assessed by quantitative methods, 8% had visual impairment and 4.0% were blind.

  • Ocular trauma was the predominant cause of both uniocular visual impairment and blindness causing 15, 29.4% and 17, 34.7% respectively.

  • Amblyopia due to congenital cataract was the leading cause of bilateral visual impairment (31.3%).

  • Cortical blindness was the main cause of bilateral blindness responsible for 50.0% of bilaterally blind children.

  • Visual impairment and blindness in children is high among the children attending the pediatric eye clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Publication date

March 5, 2018

Authors

Mhina, C.
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