Quality of life and functional vision in children treated for cataract-a cross-sectional study

Quality of life, functioning and participation of children and adolescents with visual impairment: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Vision has a key role in children's neuromotor, cognitive and social development. Children with visual impairment attain developmental milestones at later stages and are at higher risk of developing psychological disorders and social withdrawn.

AIMS

We performed a scoping review to summarize the mostly used instruments assessing the impact of visual impairment on quality of life, functioning and participation of children and adolescents. In addition, the main findings of the included studies are discussed.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

We searched for papers assessing quality of life, functioning and participation of children and adolescents with visual impairment from 0 to 18 years old conducted between 2000 and 2023.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

In total, 69 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Child self-report, caregivers-proxy and self-report questionnaires as well as interviews were used. The results showed that quality of life, functioning and participation are significantly reduced in children and adolescents with visual impairment, and that the impact depends on different factors (e.g., severity of the impairment, age).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Considering the significant impact of visual impairment on quality of life, functioning and participation on this population, it is fundamental to develop integrated and multi-dimensional assessment programs that evaluate the impact of visual impairment on those dimensions considering different contexts of life (e.g., family, school, leisure time). WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS?: The present review aims to give an overview of what is known about the impact of visual impairment on quality of life, functioning and participation of children and adolescents. We assumed a biopsychosocial perspective which, in line with the definition of health by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001), considered how body functions and structures, functioning, participation and environmental factors dynamically interact to define the health, or the disease, status of a person at a certain moment of life. We reported the most used instruments for the assessment of quality of life, participation, and functioning, with a specific interest on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and self-report measures. By reporting the different instruments used, we gave a broad overview about the available tools that can be used in clinical as well as in research field to assess quality of life, functioning and participation in this population. Additionally, the review of the existing literature allowed us to demonstrate that those dimensions are negatively impacted by visual impairment and thus they should be considered in the assessment programs. Specifically, there is the need to provide more integrated assessment programs that investigate the impact of visual impairment on children and adolescents' social and emotional wellbeing, everyday functioning and social relationship, considering their subjective experience together with the one of caregivers, teachers, health care professionals, and other relevant adults involved in their life. Additionally, it is essential to plan and implement multidimensional assessment programs that consider how all areas of life are differently impacted by visual impairment.

Systematic Review of Instruments for the Assessment of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients with Childhood Glaucoma

TOPIC

To identify patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that have been used in children and adolescents with glaucoma and to evaluate their methodologic quality.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Childhood glaucoma impairs vision and quality of life (QoL) throughout all stages of life. Thus, a PROM needs to cover many different age groups and topics. Various instruments have been used to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with childhood glaucoma, however, it is unclear which PROM has the highest methodologic quality and complies best with the needs of patients with childhood glaucoma.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed searching MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (EBSCO). We included peer-reviewed full-text articles of the past 10 years in English, German, or Spanish language that reported PROMs in children with glaucoma. The study selection and methodologic quality assessment of the identified PROMs was performed by 2 independent reviewers using a 7-point checklist. The content was mapped onto the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (ID CRD42022353936).

RESULTS

The search strategy retrieved 3295 matches. A total of 2901 studies were screened, and 11 relevant articles were identified using 10 different instruments. The instruments addressed functional visual ability, vision-related QoL, health-related QoL, and life satisfaction. Six instruments were applicable for the use in children. Seven of the questionnaires received the highest number of positive ratings (5/7). None of the instruments considered the views of patients with childhood glaucoma during their development.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review provides a descriptive catalog of vision-specific and generic health PRO instruments that have been used in childhood glaucoma cohorts. An instrument specifically developed for childhood glaucoma is lacking which might result in missing important factors, such as permanent treatment with eye drops, repeated surgeries, and heritability of the disease, when investigating the QoL in children with glaucoma.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Functional Vision of Pseudophakic Children Attending a Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic in Southwest Nigeria

PURPOSE

To determine the functional vision of pseudophakic children attending a child eye health tertiary facility in southwest Nigeria.

METHODS

A hospital-based descriptive study of pseudophakic children attending the Pediatric Ophthalmology outpatient clinic of a tertiary facility in southwest Nigeria was conducted between June and November 2021. Details of demography and clinical examination findings were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Information about functional vision was obtained using the Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ). Data obtained from the PedEyeQ were entered into a Rasch-calibrated PedEyeQ Excel response data sheet. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 (SPSS, Inc).

RESULTS

A total of 196 pseudophakic children were recruited. Their ages ranged from 2 to 16 years with a mean of 9.8 ± 3.4 years and there was a male-to-female ratio of 2.2:1. The median functional vision score of pseudophakic children across all age groups was 90.0. The functional vision scores were associated with the laterality of cataract, type of cataract, presence of comorbidities, visual acuity (distance and near) in the better eye, and number of surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional vision scores of pseudophakic children were low. Significant predictors of low functional vision scores include surgery for congenital cataract, low average family income, longer duration of time between surgery and recruitment into the study, and poorer best corrected visual acuity in the better eye. The routine assessment of functional vision should be considered an important aspect of pseudophakic children's eye care with a view toward optimizing psychological and social well-being. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(2):138-146.].

The impact of childhood glaucoma on psychosocial functioning and quality of life: a review of the literature

We present a novel comprehensive literature review of studies of the psychosocial functioning (PF) and quality of life (QoL) of patients with childhood glaucoma and their caregivers. Our findings demonstrate variable study quality and approach, as well as inconsistent results relating to the association of glaucoma-specific factors and sociodemographic variables with measured PF and QoL. Future studies should focus on the development of culturally cognizant and standardized assessment tools, execution of multi-center longitudinal studies with global representation, evaluation of PF and QoL among siblings and childhood glaucoma providers, and implementation of interventions to improve patient and caregiver PF and QoL.

Comprehensive evaluation of functional vision, quality of life, and cognitive ability in pediatric uveitis

BACKGROUND

Pediatric uveitis may cause severe impairment of vision in children and affect their quality of life as well as cognitive ability. This study aims to evaluate the functional vision, visual-related and health-related quality of life, and cognitive ability in pediatric uveitis.

METHODS

Children with uveitis aged 5-16 years old completed six validated instruments to assess functional visual ability with Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC), vision-related quality of life with Impact of Vision Impairment for Children (IVI-C), health-related quality of life with Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), cognitive ability with Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC), and depression and anxiety evaluation with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD).

RESULTS

The CVAQC, IVI-C, and PedsQL scores of pediatric uveitis were significantly lower than that of normal levels. Full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) and performance IQ were significantly lower in pediatric uveitis patients with impaired vision in their best eye (visual acuity < 0.3) compared to those with a vision equal to or better than 0.3. Verbal IQ was significantly lower in male pediatric uveitis patients with impaired vision compared to those with a vision equal to or better than 0.3. Additionally, parents of pediatric uveitis patients with impaired vision generally had lower educational levels than parents of those with a vision equal to or better than 0.3.

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired vision caused by pediatric uveitis has a significant impact on children's functional visual ability and quality of life. The development of cognitive function in pediatric uveitis is also significantly hindered.

School performances in children with cataract: results from a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Childhood cataract is a chronic condition that may interfere with the child's learning capacities. We aimed to investigate whether childhood cataract influences academic development by comparing school performance in reading and mathematics in children with cataract to a matched control group.

DESIGN

Nationwide registry-based cohort study.

SETTINGS

Two surgical centres that perform all treatments for childhood cataract in Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS

Children born between 2000 and 2009 diagnosed with cataract before 10 years of age (n=275) and an age-matched and sex-matched control group (n=2473).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

School performance was assessed as test scores in national tests performed at regular intervals from grade 2 to grade 8 in reading and mathematics. Analyses were corrected for birth origin, child somatic and mental disorder and parental socioeconomic status and mental disorders.

RESULTS

Of 275 children, 85 (30.9%) were operated for bilateral cataract, 79 (28.7%) unilateral cataract and 111 (40,4%) were not operated. We found that children with cataract have lower participation rate in the tests (62.5%) compared with the control cohort (77.2%) (p value=0.0001). After adjusting the pooled analyses for birth origin, somatic and mental disease in the child and parental socioeconomic status and mental disorders, we found that the children with cataract scored significantly lower in mathematics compared with those without cataract (mean difference=-4.78, 95% CI: -8.18 to -1.38, p value=0.006), whereas no difference was found regarding scores in reading (p=0.576). The lower score in mathematics was driven by children who had been operated for bilateral cataract (p-value=0.004).

CONCLUSION

Children with cataract without somatic or neurodevelopmental comorbidities or psychosocial adversities seem to do well in school, whereas children operated for bilateral cataract have higher frequencies of difficulties in mathematical tasks.

Vision-related tasks in children with visual impairment: a multi-method study

Objective

Functional Vision (FV) is vital for the successful growth of children with visual impairment. However, tasks related to measuring FV have not been thoroughly studied for this population. To address this gap, this study seeks to establish a comprehensive set of vision-related tasks that consider both the difficulty levels of activities and the ages of children with visual impairment.

Methods

This study utilized a sequential multi-method design, including a scoping review, a qualitative content analysis, and a focus group. Firstly, a scoping review was conducted to identify vision-related tasks based on the literature. Then, to contextualize the vision-related tasks, a qualitative content analysis was carried out. Subsequently, a focus group was conducted to categorize the identified tasks based on their difficulty levels and the children's level of dependency. We utilized the directed content analysis method to analyze the data, using the occupational domain of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (OTPF-4) as the primary framework.

Results

During the review phase, which included 22 studies, and the interview phase, which involved 16 participants, a total of 95 and 85 vision-related tasks were identified, respectively. These tasks were then categorized into 17 activities and five occupations, which included activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, play, and participation in social activities. Among these occupations, ADL was the easiest, while participation in social activities was the most challenging. Finally, the tasks were arranged based on their difficulty level for children with visual impairment.

Conclusion

A comprehensive list of vision-related tasks has been developed based on the difficulty level of the tasks and the degree of dependency of children with visual impairment. This list can be used to develop standardized instruments for assessing FV in children with visual impairment.

Clinical manifestations and vision-related quality of life in pediatric uveitis

Purpose

To analyze clinical manifestations, visual ability, and quality of life in pediatric uveitis and to explore factors affecting visual ability and quality of life.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 40 patients with pediatric uveitis in the database of Ophthalmology of Peking University First Hospital. All patients completed the Cardiff visual ability questionnaire for children (CVAQC) and pediatric quality of life inventory measurement models (PedsQL4.0).

Results

A total of 40 cases (68 eyes) with pediatric uveitis were included in this study. Better visual acuity in the better eye was predictive of lower CVAQC, education, and distance vision scores. Better visual acuity in the worse eye was predictive of a lower CVAQC score and distance vision. Better CVAQC scores were predictive of lower PedsQL4.0, physical health, psychosocial health, and school functioning scores.

Conclusion

Patients with pediatric uveitis tend to be seriously affected by ocular complications. The visual ability of patients with pediatric uveitis decreases significantly. Better visual acuity in the better eye is associated with better total visual ability, education, and distance vision. Better visual acuity in the worse eye is associated with better total visual ability and distance vision. Health-related quality of life is related to vision ability in pediatric uveitis.

We have Neglected "Ourselves"; A Qualitative Study on Iranian Parents of Children with Aphakia

Background

Contact lenses play a substantial role in the management of childhood aphakia. However, the use and care of the lenses can be challenging. Despite its prevalence, the phenomenon of living with children with aphakia is not explained in Iran yet. The aim of this study was to illuminate the lived experience of the parents of children with aphakia.

Materials and Methods

This hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted on the parents who have been referred to Farabi Eye Hospital of Tehran, Iran in 2019, whose children were diagnosed with aphakia, and the condition was corrected with contact lenses. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parents of children with congenital cataract. Analysis was based on the framework of Diekelmann enabled data interpretation and elaboration of shared themes.

Results

The 20 parents involved in the study consisted of 12 women and 8 men. The participant's experiences were classified in 4 categories: Self-Ignorance, Troubled mind, Self-Regulation, and Coping with the problem while hoping for the future.

Conclusions

"Self-Ignorance" and "Troubled Mind" indicates that because of the risk of burnout in the long-term process of treatment, the psychological support of parents is necessary. Psychological support will continue until the parents acquire the ability of self-regulation. Giving a realistic hope to families is a core element in psychological support.

Clinical Congenital Anophthalmos and Microphthalmos-Experiences of Patients and Their Parents after More than 10 Years of Treatment

Congenital clinical anophthalmos and blind microphthalmos describe the absence of an eye or the presence of a small eye in the orbit. Between 1999 and 2013, 97 children with anophthalmos or microphthalmos were treated with self-inflating, hydrophilic gel expanders at the Rostock Eye Clinic. More than a decade later, this study investigated the perspective of patients and parents regarding the treatment, the surgical outcome, and the emotional and social well-being of the patients. A total of 22 families with 16 patients sighted in the other eye and six patients blind in both eyes participated. Questionnaires were developed, including items on physical, emotional, social, and medical aspects. The patients felt emotionally stable and integrated into their social environment, with no major limitations reported by the majority. These statements were confirmed by most of the parents. Parents (67%) indicated that the success of the operation was already apparent after the first intervention and that the current situation did not play a role in the patients' social environment. The study provided new insights into the therapy results, the postoperative care, and the social and emotional stability of the prosthesis-wearing patients, indicating the chosen expander methods as promising in terms of positive postoperative care.

Patient- and parent-reported outcome measures of developmental adaptive abilities in visually impaired children: The Visual Impairment Developmental Autonomy (VIDA) scale

In the pediatric context, parents' and patients' engagement in the care process is strongly recommended and could be pursued using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which therefore become useful for planning and monitoring treatments. Nevertheless, few data are available from families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as visual impairment (VI). The Visual Impairment Developmental Autonomy (VIDA) project aims to develop and validate a patient- and parent-reported tool to measure the most relevant aspects concerning everyday adaptive abilities in children and adolescents with visual impairment: the VIDA scale. The present paper illustrates the Delphi process of item generation engaging parents and patients and presents a protocol for the validation of this new co-designed tool in an Italian visually impaired pediatric population. Twenty-three families and five adolescents provided a list of 192 items and assessed their relevance. Items were categorized in 5 areas of adaptive abilities (i.e., table manners, clothing, personal hygiene, orientation and mobility, and socio-affectivity) and into three age ranges based on the patient's age. The final 102-item Vida Scale will be administered to a minimum of 300 visually impaired children together with measures of quality of life and child adjustment to investigate its psychometric properties.

Vision-related quality of life and visual ability in patients with autosomal dominant optic atrophy

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate vision-related quality of life and visual ability in patients with OPA1 autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA).

METHODS

This cross-sectional, observational study included 145 participants with a mutation in the OPA1 gene associated with ADOA, 63 mutation-free first-degree relatives and 92 healthy subjects unrelated to the families. Participants underwent a clinical eye examination, and adult participants completed the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-39), while children completed the Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC).

RESULTS

In adults with ADOA, both mean visual acuity (VA) and mean contrast sensitivity (CS) were significantly inferior to both first-degree relatives and unrelated controls (p < 0.001). In children with ADOA, mean VA was significantly lower compared with first-degree relatives (p = 0.0052), whereas CS was not (0.127). Adults with ADOA scored lower than both comparator groups on composite score (p < 0.001), general health subscale (p = 0.0075) and all vision-related subscales (p < 0.001) except the ocular pain subscale (p = 0.2). In children with ADOA, the median CVAQC logit score was significantly lower compared with first-degree relatives (p = 0.037). The science lessons subscale was significantly lower for children with ADOA compared with first-degree relatives (p = 0.046), as well as the language lessons subscale (p = 0.038). For adults, composite score and subscale scores were significantly associated with both VA, CS and fixation status.

CONCLUSION

OPA1 mutation is associated with lower quality of life and visual ability in patients with ADOA compared with both first-degree relatives and unrelated controls. VA, CS and fixation status affect quality of life in patients with ADOA.

A Retrospective Study on the Eye-Related Quality of Life, Functional Vision, and Their Determinants Among Children Following Congenital and Developmental Cataracts Surgery and Its Impact on Their Families Using the PedEyeQ

Objectives

To evaluate the eye-related quality of life (ER-QOL), functional vision, and their determinants in children following congenital and developmental cataract surgery, as the impact on their families, using the Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ).

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 107 children (aged 0–11 years) with congenital and developmental cataracts who had undergone surgery, as well as 59 visually healthy controls (aged 0–11 years). One parent for each child completed either the Proxy 0–4 PedEyeQ, the Proxy 5–11 PedEyeQ, or the Parent PedEyeQ, depending on their child's age. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were then conducted to compare the differences between groups and to analyze their determinants.

Results

PedEyeQ scores were found to be lower in postoperative children with congenital and developmental cataracts compared with the control group across all study domains. The PedEyeQ Proxy 0 to 4 years' greatest mean difference was 27 points worse in the Functional Vision domain (95% CI −34 to −19; p &lt; 0.001). We also found that the occurrence of nystagmus (p &lt; 0.005) and strabismus (p &lt; 0.005) were the major factors affecting participants' functional vision. The PedEyeQ Proxy 5 to 11 years' greatest mean difference was 23 points worse in this same domain (95% CI −30 to −15; p &lt; 0.001), with nystagmus (p &lt; 0.05) being the main determinant herein. Parent PedEyeQ 0 to 4 years' greatest difference was 46 points worse on the Worry about their Child's Eye Condition domain (95% CI −57 to −36; p &lt; 0.001). Similarly, parents of children with ophthalmologic abnormalities, including nystagmus (p &lt; 0.001) and strabismus (p &lt; 0.05), were significantly more worried about their children's eye condition. Parent PedEyeQ 5 to 11 years' greatest difference was also found to be 30 points worse on the Worry about their Child's Eye Condition domain (95% CI −43 to −17; p &lt; 0.005).

Conclusions

Children who have undergone congenital and developmental cataract surgery experience a lower quality of life and reduced functional vision. Their families are also significantly and adversely affected herein. Thus, more attention is needed on these groups, with more focused measures being administered to both children and their families.

The Utility of Universal Newborn Eye Screening: A Review

Universal newborn eye screening can identify ocular abnormalities early and help mitigate long-term visual impairment. Traditional neonatal and infant eye screening is administered by neonatologists and pediatricians using the red reflex test. If this test identifies an ocular abnormality, then the patient is examined by an ophthalmologist. Notably, the red reflex test may be unable to detect amblyogenic posterior segment pathology. Recent studies using fundus imaging and telemedicine show reduced cost of human resources and increased sensitivity compared with traditional approaches. In this review, the authors discuss universal newborn eye screening pilot programs with regard to disease prevalence, referral-warranted disease, and cost-effectiveness. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:S6-S16.].

Psychosocial indicators of primary congenital glaucoma and filtering surgeries impacts on children and family's quality of life

PURPOSE

To identify psychosocial indicators and evaluate the filtering surgeries impacts on quality of life (QOL) of children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and their family.

METHODS

Parents of children with bilateral PCG who underwent filtering surgery were included. Data were collected through: (a) psychological inquiry to determine psychosocial indicators; (b) Children's Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ). The associations between the CVFQ scores and visual acuity, intraocular pressure, optic disk cupping, horizontal corneal diameter, axial length, number of surgeries, and hypotensive eye drops were investigated. The statistical significance level was considered as p ⩽ 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age of the nine mothers interviewed and their children (six boys and three girls) was 29 ± 5 years and 35 ± 18 months, respectively. The psychosocial indicators determined were: emotional impact of the diagnosis, disease knowledge, mother and family's feelings on facing the surgical treatment, surgical result comprehension, treatment adherence, child's emotional and behavioral reactions, social support, and future expectations. In CVFQ analysis, QOL score was strongly associated with visual acuity (r = -0.79; p = 0.01). Besides the treatment score was correlated to intraocular pressure (r = -0.68; p < 0.05), optic disk cupping (r = -0.85; p = 0.03), and corneal diameter (r = -0.69; p = 0.02). Correlations were not found for number of surgeries and eye drops.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed the PCG surgical treatment impact on QOL and determined psychosocial indicators which may favor the suitable actions in psychological treatment and follow-up of the children and families.

Development and initial validation of self-report measures of general health, preoperative anxiety, and postoperative pain in young children using computer-administered animation

BACKGROUND

For young children, existing measures of children's health-related quality of life must be parent-reported or interviewer-administered for those who cannot read or complete measures independently. Parents' and childrens' reports about the child's health have been shown to disagree.

AIMS

(a) To test the reliability and validity of an animated, computer-administered Child Health Rating Inventories (CHRIS2.0) among children aged 4-12 undergoing surgery; and (b) to develop and test two CHRIS measures of preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain management.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of a diverse group of 542 children aged 4-12 undergoing surgery. We compared the CHRIS measures to Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), the Functional Disabilities Inventory (FDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children (STAI-CH), and the Parent Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM).

RESULTS

Factor analyses supported the construct validity of the 12-item general physical health and the 8-item mental health CHRIS scales, as well as a composite 20-item scale, and the CHRIS preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain scales. Internal consistency reliability for all CHRIS scales exceeded the standard for group comparisons (Cronbach's α ≥0.70). The CHRIS general health composite was significantly correlated with composite PedsQL and FDI (r = 0.28, P < .001 and r = 0.43, P < .001, respectively). The CHRIS peri-operative anxiety measure was significantly correlated with the STAI-CH (r = 0.44, P < .001), as was the CHRIS postoperative pain scale with the PPPM (r = 0.52, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The CHRIS measures were reliable and valid in this diverse sample of young children (4-12). Because CHRIS measures are self-administered, scored in real time, and run on multiple different platforms, this approach provides a feasible method for the collection of health-related quality of life in young children and those with limited literacy. Our data indicate that this approach is psychometrically sound and has the potential for adding the child's voice to pediatric outcomes.

Quality of life and functional vision across pediatric eye conditions assessed using the PedEyeQ

PURPOSE

To evaluate eye-related quality of life (ER-QOL) and functional vision across a wide range of pediatric eye conditions, using the Pediatric Eye Questionnaires (PedEyeQ).

METHODS

A total of 1,037 children with an eye condition and 254 visually normal controls, across 0-4, 5-11, and 12-17 years age groups, completed the following questionnaires: Child PedEyeQ (Functional Vision, Bothered by Eyes/Vision, Social, Frustration/Worry domains), Proxy PedEyeQ (same domains plus Eye Care), and Parent PedEyeQ (Impact on Parent and Family, Worry about Child's Eye Condition, Worry about Child's Self-perception and Interactions, and Worry about Functional Vision domains). The primary eye condition was classified as amblyopia (n = 171), cataract (n = 99), cerebral visual impairment (CVI; n = 50), cornea (n = 20), eyelid (n = 35), glaucoma (n = 24), nystagmus (n = 57), orbital (n = 19), pupil/iris (n = 7), refractive error (n = 119), retina (n = 82), strabismus (n = 332), and uveitis (n = 22).

RESULTS

PedEyeQ domain scores (scaled 0-100) were significantly worse across eye conditions, compared with controls. Child PedEyeQ greatest differences were on the Bothered by Eyes/Vision domain (nystagmus 5-11 years, -26 points [95% CI, -39 to -12]; nystagmus 12-17 years, -45 [95% CI, -61 to -28]). Proxy PedEyeQ differences were greatest on Functional Vision (CVI 0-4 years, -45 [95% CI, -56 to -34]; CVI 5-11 years, -58 [95% CI, -72 to -43]; nystagmus 12-17 years, -50 [95% CI, -69 to -31]). Parent PedEyeQ differences were greatest on Worry about Child's Functional Vision (CVI 0-4 years, -64; 95% CI -77 to -50).

CONCLUSIONS

The PedEyeQ detects reduced ER-QOL and functional vision across pediatric eye conditions, and across age groups, indicating its utility for clinical practice and clinical trials.

Self-perception in Preschool Children With Deprivation Amblyopia and Its Association With Deficits in Vision and Fine Motor Skills

Importance

Although the development of self-perception and self-esteem has been investigated in children with strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia, we know little about how self-perception is affected in deprivation amblyopia. Deprivation amblyopia from a dense, unilateral cataract is the least common and typically most severe form of amblyopia. After cataract extraction, optical correction, and patching treatment for amblyopia, visual acuity almost always remains abnormal, and except in rare cases, stereoacuity is nearly always nil.

Objective

To determine whether deprivation amblyopia is associated with altered self-perception in preschool children and to determine whether any differences in self-perception are associated with vision or motor skill deficits.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Cross-sectional study conducted from 2016 to 2019 at a pediatric vision research laboratory. Children aged 3 to 6 years were enrolled, including 15 children with deprivation amblyopia and 20 control children.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Self-perception was assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Competence and Acceptance for Young Children, which includes 4 specific domains: cognitive competence, peer acceptance, physical competence, and maternal acceptance. Fine motor skills were evaluated with the Manual Dexterity and Aiming & Catching Scales of the Movement ABC-2 test. Visual acuity and stereoacuity also were assessed.

Results

Of the 35 children included, 13 of 35 were girls (37%) and 28 of 35 were non-Hispanic White (80%). Children with deprivation amblyopia had significantly lower peer acceptance and physical competence scores compared with control children (mean [SD], 2.80 [0.44] vs 3.25 [0.33]; mean difference, 0.45; 95% CI for difference, 0.19-0.71; P = .002 and 2.94 [0.45] vs 3.41 [0.37]; mean difference, 0.47; 95% CI for difference, 0.19-0.75; P = .002, respectively). Among children with amblyopia, moderate associations were found between self-perception domain scores and motor skills, including peer acceptance and manual dexterity (r = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.26-0.89; P = .005), peer acceptance and aiming (r = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.03-0.82; P = .03), and physical competence and aiming (r = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.06-0.83; P = .03).

Conclusions and Relevance

Lower self-perception of peer acceptance and physical competence were associated with early visual deprivation in children in their everyday life.

Visual function and quality of life in children and adolescents with anophthalmia and microphthalmia treated with ocular prosthesis

PURPOSE

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), vision-related (VR-)QoL and perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD) among individuals with anophthalmia (A) and microphthalmia (M) treated with ocular prosthesis.

METHODS

The study comprised 15 individuals (mean age 6.6 years; range 1.7-14.1) with unilateral A or M. Three validated instruments measuring HR-QoL and VR-QoL were used: The Pediatric QoL Inventory (PedsQL), consisting of physical and psychosocial self-report and parent-proxy report (2-18 years); Children's Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ); and Effects of Youngsters' Eyesight on Quality of Life (EYE-Q). Perceptual visual dysfunctions (PVDs) were assessed by history taking according to a specific protocol.

RESULTS

A/M children and their parents showed low HR-QoL scores (PedsQL total score: 66.3; 69.6) compared with controls (83.0; 87.61) (p = 0.0035 and <0.0001, respectively, unpaired t-test). No differences were found between A/M children and parents, but parents tended to underestimate their children's emotional state. A/M children with subnormal visual acuity (VA) for age scored lower in physical health compared with A/M children with normal VA (p = 0.03, Mann-Whitney U-test). No significant VR-QoL differences between A/M children and references or between A/M children with subnormal or normal VA for age were found. More A/M children than controls exhibited PVDs in ≥1 area (7/11 versus 4/118; p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSION

A/M individuals show poor HR-QoL and increased PVDs. No difference in QoL was found between children and parents, though the children tended to score lower in emotional well-being. A/M children with subnormal VA showed lower physical health score. These problems indicate the necessity of a thorough multidisciplinary assessment and follow-up of children with A/M.

Visual functions in children with craniopharyngioma at diagnosis: A systematic review

Childhood craniopharyngioma is a rare and slow growing brain tumour, often located in the sellar and suprasellar region. It commonly manifests with visual impairment, increased intracranial pressure and hypothalamic and/or pituitary deficiencies. Visual impairment in childhood adversely affects a child’s daily functioning and quality of life. We systematically reviewed the literature to provide an extensive overview of the visual function in children with craniopharyngioma at diagnosis in order to estimate the diversity, magnitude and relevance of the problem of visual impairment. Of the 543 potentially relevant articles, 84 studies met our inclusion criteria. Visual impairment at diagnosis was reported in 1041 of 2071 children (50.3%), decreased visual acuity was reported in 546 of 1321 children (41.3%) and visual field defects were reported in 426 of 1111 children (38.3%). Other ophthalmological findings described were fundoscopic (32.5%) and orthoptic abnormalities (12.5%). Variations in ophthalmological testing methods and ophthalmological definitions precluded a meta-analysis. The results of this review confirm the importance of ophthalmological examination in children with craniopharyngioma at diagnosis in order to detect visual impairment and provide adequate support. Future studies should focus on long-term visual follow-up of childhood craniopharyngioma in response to different treatment strategies to provide insight in risks and ways to prevent further loss of vision.

Congenital cataract in newborns: A qualitative study on parents' experiences of the surgery and subsequent care

PURPOSE

Having a child with congenital cataract that requires surgery, contact lens treatment, and frequent medication is a life-altering experience. The aim of this study was to provide more in-depth knowledge of parents' experiences of diagnosis, surgery, and subsequent care, in order to find the areas for improvement.

METHODS

Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with parents recruited from St. Erik Eye Hospital, Sweden. The children were operated for congenital cataract before 3 months of age and were aged 12-24 months at the time of the interviews. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the data: living in a turbulent time before the diagnosis, coping during the time of initial treatment, and managing the responsibility of their child's visual development. All parents expressed confidence in the operating unit. However, there was a clear need for reliable information on the condition, the surgery, and likely the long-term outcome in the time between receiving the preliminary diagnosis at the maternity ward and getting it confirmed by a paediatric ophthalmologist.

CONCLUSION

Much of the parents' concern in this turbulent time is linked to poor information before the visit to the eye hospital. We, therefore, recommend earlier contact with the eye hospital, preferably at the time of writing the referral. Moreover, the possibility of providing up-to-date information via alternative information channels such as smartphone apps should be investigated.

Visual outcomes after surgery for childhood cataracts

PURPOSE

To describe long-term objective and subjective visual outcomes in a group of Danish children after cataract surgery.

METHODS

Follow-up examination of 56 children aged 7-18 years who had undergone uni- or bilateral cataract surgery. Subjective visual function was assessed using the Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC) and compared to objective visual acuity for distance and near, contrast vision and stereopsis.

RESULTS

Better visual acuity on the better seeing and contrast vision on worst seeing eye were significant predictors of increased subjective visual function in a multivariate analysis, p = 0.024. Children in the unilateral group had a significantly better CVAQC ratio compared to children in the bilateral group, median of 0.88 (range 0.50-1.00) versus 0.80 (range 0.55-0.98), p = 0.027. Reading small print, playing ball games and seeing friends in the playground were the most difficult CVAQC items in the unilateral group and reading small print, seeing the board in the classroom and seeing friends in the playground were the most difficult in the bilateral group.

CONCLUSION

Children with unilateral disease often have a healthy eye to support the operated eye, why they overall have better subjective visual function. Many of the most difficult visual tasks were related to academic activities which might hamper future academical capabilities.

Increased prevalence of parent ratings of ADHD symptoms among children with bilateral congenital cataracts

AIM

To investigate the behavioral and psychological disorders and the prevalence of parent ratings of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among children with bilateral congenital cataracts (CCs).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study investigated children with bilateral CC aged 3-8y (CC group) using Conners' Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS-48) from July to December 2016. The abnormal rates of psychological symptoms in CC children and normal vision (NV) children were compared using the Chi-square test. The scores of CC children were compared with those of NV children and the Chinese urban norm using the independent samples t-test and one-sample t-test, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 262 valid questionnaires were collected. The ratio of CC children to NV children was 119:143. The overall rate of psychological symptoms in CC children was 2.28 times higher than that in NV children (46.22% vs 20.28%, Pearson's χ ²=20.062; P<0.001). CC children showed higher scores for conduct problems, learning problems, impulsiveness/hyperactivity, anxiety, and hyperactivity index than NV children and the Chinese urban norm, particularly between the ages of 3 and 5y. Furthermore, male children aged between 6 and 8y showed a higher impulsive/hyperactive score than females of the same age (t=6.083, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Children with bilateral CCs have a higher rate of ADHD symptoms than children with NV. This study provides clinical evidence that screening for psychological symptoms and particularly for ADHD symptoms in children with bilateral CC are recommended for an early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Reduced vision, refractive errors and health-related quality of life among adolescents in rural China

BACKGROUND

To determine the associations of reduced presenting visual acuity (VA), refractive errors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in healthy adolescents in rural China.

METHODS

A total of 2,235 grade 7 students without systemic medical problems from 10 middle schools aged 13-14 years in Mojiang, a small county located in southwestern China, were included in the analysis. Reduced VA was defined as presenting VA of worse than 6/12 in the presence of an ophthalmic aetiology which could be identified. The refractive status of each participant was measured after cycloplegia using an autorefractor. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales was used for measuring HRQoL of the participants.

RESULTS

Among all the participants included in the data analysis, 279 (12.5 per cent) individuals were affected by reduced VA based on the better-seeing eye data. After adjusting for the effect of gender, body mass index, the education level of the father, and the use of a corrective device, the total (adjusted mean difference: -3.27; 95 per cent confidence interval [CI] -4.95 to -1.59; p = 0.01), social functioning (adjusted mean difference: -3.44; 95 per cent CI -5.87 to -1.01; p = 0.02) and school functioning scores (adjusted mean difference: -3.12; 95 per cent CI -5.89 to -0.35; p = 0.04) of the adolescents with reduced presenting VA were significantly lower compared with those with normal vision. The associations between corrected refractive errors and HRQoL were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthy adolescents with reduced VA reported lower HRQoL scores including total, social functioning and school functioning scores, compared with those with normal vision.