The diagnosis and assessment of visual function in Singaporean children with electrophysiology: 10-year results.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical use and efficacy of electrophysiology in children.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of all children aged <16 years, who were referred to the Visual Electrophysiology Laboratory at the Singapore National Eye Center between 2003 and 2013.

RESULTS

A total of 586 children, median age 8 years (range 0.15-16), were referred for a variety of reasons including investigation of poor vision (40 %), suspected retinal disease or optic nerve/cortical dysfunction (17 %), nystagmus (13 %) and screening or monitoring of a variety of ocular or neurological conditions (12 %). The number of children with vision 6/15 or worse was 418 (71 %), and 103 (18 %) had vision 6/120 or worse in at least one eye. The most common pathology noted was retinal dystrophy or dysfunction (41 %) or optic nerve/cortical dysfunction (12 %). In 30 %, visual electrophysiology was within normal limits, and in 6 %, a conclusive diagnosis could not be obtained.

CONCLUSION

Electrophysiology testing played an important role in the assessment of children and added to the clinical management of the patient.