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Childhood visual impairment in England: a rising trend
  1. Danny Mitry1,
  2. Catey Bunce1,2,
  3. Richard Wormald1,2,
  4. Richard Bowman3,4,5
  1. 1National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hopsital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  2. 2Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
  3. 3Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street London, UK
  4. 4Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
  5. 5London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Danny Mitry, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hopsital NHS Foundation Trust, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK:mitryd{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Aim To explore temporal trends in the incidence of childhood blindness and partial-sight registration in England between 1982 and 2011.

Methods We obtained blind and partial-sight registration data for all new individuals registered annually in England. We calculated the age-specific incidence of new registrations for childhood blind and partial sight.

Results The incidence of new registration for blindness of all ages has decreased from 2.6 per 10 000 in 1982 to 1.7 per 10 000 in 2011, however the annual incidence of new paediatric blind registration has increased, with an incidence of 0.17 per 10 000 in 1982, doubling to 0.41 per 10 000 in 2011. The annual incidence of new paediatric partial-sight registration showed a comparable trend.

Conclusions Over 30 years, there has been a greater than twofold increase in blind and partial-sight registration in children in England. Better awareness of this is needed to ensure adequate resources are available to help these children.

  • Epidemiology
  • Ophthalmology

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2012-301970

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