Research
The Impact of Pediatric Vision Disorders in Adulthood
Ocular disorders that occur in infants, toddlers, and children may present lifelong problems for the child.
In addition, vision disorders that occur in childhood may manifest as problems well into adulthood.
These problems may include overall health, self-perception, educational attainment, job choices, and a number of other social factors.
SUMMARY
In addition to refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism, ocular disorders that occur in infants, toddlers, and children may present lifelong problems for the child.
Conditions such as strabismus, amblyopia, and retinopathy of prematurity may require adaptations in adulthood. In addition, vision disorders that occur in childhood may manifest as problems well into adulthood.
When visual impairment is present, there may be further effects on overall health, self-perception, educational attainment, job choices, and a number of other social factors.
The objective of this article is to help the practitioner caring for children with vision disorders, beyond refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism, to understand the effect that vision problems may have on their patients’ future.
Unilateral and bilateral visual impairment, amblyopia, strabismus, and ocular sequelae of prematurity may all present lifelong disabilities that need to be addressed. In addition, vision disorders that occur in childhood may manifest as problems well into adulthood and require referral to appropriate eye care physicians.