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Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:929-932 doi:10.1136/bjo.83.8.929
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Causes of childhood blindness in the People’s Republic of China: results from 1131 blind school students in 18 provinces

  1. S J Hornbya,
  2. Y Xiaob,
  3. C E Gilberta,
  4. A Fostera,
  5. X Wangc,
  6. X Liangd,
  7. H Jinge,
  8. L Wangf,
  9. W Ming,
  10. Y Shih,
  11. Y Lib
  1. aInternational Centre for Eye Health, Department of Preventive Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, bThe Red Cross Hospital of Yunnan, Qingnian Road, Kunming, PR China, cInner Mongolia Medical University, No 1 Tong Dao North Street, Inner Mongolia, 010050 Huhhot, PR China, dZhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, 54 S Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, PR China, eChina Medical University Shen Yang 110001, PR China, fXi Jing Eye Hospital, 4th Military Medical University Xian, Shaanxi 710032, PR China, gSichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, PR China, hXuzhou Eye Institute, 15 N Zhong-Shan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, PR China
  1. Miss Clare Gilbert, Institute of Ophthalmology, 11–43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL.
  • Accepted 15 March 1999

Abstract

AIMS To determine the anatomical site and underlying causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children under 16 years of age in special education in the People’s Republic of China with a view to determining potentially preventable and treatable causes.

METHODS A national study of children attending schools for the blind in China was conducted between April and June 1998 using the WHO Prevention of Blindness Programme (WHO/PBL) eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision. Eight Chinese ophthalmologists attended a training workshop before conducting the study. 36 blind schools in 18 provinces of China were included.

RESULTS 1245 children aged between 5 and 15 years were examined, of whom 1131 (91%) were blind or severely visually impaired (visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye). The commonest anatomical sites of visual loss were whole globe (mainly microphthalmos) 25.5% and retina (mainly dystrophies) 24.9%. Lens was the major site in 18.8%, optic nerve in 13.6%, and glaucoma in 9%. Corneal scarring was not a major cause of visual loss. The aetiology was unknown in 52.9%, hereditary factors were responsible in 30.7%, and childhood causes in 14%. 15% of cases were considered potentially preventable and 22.5% potentially treatable.

CONCLUSION The pattern of childhood blindness seen in this study is likely to reflect the improved health and socioeconomic status of China but may partly reflect bias in admission to, and location of, blind schools, with higher socioeconomic groups overrepresented. Nutritional and infective causes of blindness are uncommon, and hereditary and unknown factors are now the predominant causes.

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