Special needs reports for children: diagnosis distribution and age relationship in visual function

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to analyze the most common eye disease diagnoses in children with special needs and their distribution by age and special needs levels. Methods: Records of 1771 patients evaluated by the health board of our hospital between February 2019 and March 2024 were reviewed. Data from 134 children assessed in the visual function domain were categorized based on special needs levels: presence of special needs (PSN), presence of significant special needs (PSSN), and presence of special conditions (PSC). Diagnoses were analyzed by age groups. Results: The most common diagnoses among children evaluated for special needs reports were refractive errors (20.8%), optic atrophy (18.6%), and strabismus (14.1%). Among children identified with PSSN, optic atrophy (37.5%) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by nystagmus (16.7%), hereditary retinal dystrophies (16.7%), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (12.5%). In children identified with PSC, the most common diagnosis was also optic atrophy (37.1%), followed by hereditary retinal dystrophies (14.3%) and congenital glaucoma (11.4%). Of the 25 children diagnosed with optic atrophy, 15 had accompanying conditions such as hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and intracranial pressure elevation caused by masses. Conclusion: The diagnoses in special needs reports for children vary according to the visual function category. However, optic atrophy appears as a frequently observed diagnosis across all age groups. Age-specific diagnostic distributions may serve as a guide in planning early intervention and treatment strategies.

Keywords

• Assessment of healthcare needs
• optic atrophy
• vision disorders

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