[Practice guidelines for diagnosis of vision disorders in mentally handicapped persons. National Organization for Quality Assurance in Hospitals].

Visual impairment is more frequent among people with intellectual disability than among the general population. Because the diagnosis often fails to be made in this group screening is justified. Timely recognition may have consequences for prevention and treatment. Therefore, a consensus statement has been developed by the Dutch associations of physicians for intellectual disability, general practitioners, ophthalmologists, paediatricians, youth health physicians and orthoptists. Specialized ophthalmological assessment of all young children with retarded development is recommended, as well as assessment of visual function at the ages of 3, 6, 12 and 18 years and every 5 years from the age of 45. In adults with Down's syndrome, an additional assessment at the age of 30 is recommended for detection of age-related cataract and (increased) refractive errors. Most people can be assessed by the general practitioner, using normal methods. Diagnostic methods applicable in insufficiently co-operative people have been recommended. Low-threshold regional expert centres for diagnosis in children and adults who are difficult to assess and for specialized guidance would be advisable.