[Severe visual impairment of children with hydrocephalus and concomitant diseases].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the condition of the sight organ among small children suffering from hydrocephalus and accompanying diseases.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The results of the examination done upon fifteen children (five girls and ten boys) suffering from hydrocephalus and accompanying diseases have been analysed. The accompanying diseases were as follows: cerebral palsy, epilepsy, retrolental fibroplasia, microphthalmia and congenital cataract. The average age of a child was 3,7 months. The examination concerned: visual acuity, the setting of the eyeballs, ocular fundus and flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP). Evans' Index was calculated from MRI or TK examinations.

RESULTS

The following distortions have been noticed: bilateral optic atrophy (14), bilateral nystagmus (4), bilateral strabismus (5), bilateral loss of pupils' reaction (2). The latency of FVEP was like in control group, but the amplitude was markedly lowered.

CONCLUSIONS

Optic atrophy is the main cause of low vision in children with hydrocephalus. Severe visual disorders might be a serious problem of rehabilitation of those children. Objective examination in patient, who do not co-operate, is FVEP. Evans' Index is not prognostic value about blindness in children with hydrocephalus.