Visually impaired infants in the 1980s. A survey of etiologic factors and additional handicapping conditions in a school population.

To identify etiologic factors and ophthalmologic diagnoses related to visual impairment in young infants, a survey was carried out within the 22 school districts providing educational services to all visually impaired infants, birth to 3 years of age, in Harris County, Texas. Review of 102 records revealed that 51 percent had impaired vision associated with prenatal factors, and 31 percent were associated with perinatal events. The most frequent ophthalmologic diagnoses were lesions of the optic nerve, optic pathway, and visual centers of the brain (cortical blindness). A majority of the infants had multiple handicaps: 17 percent had hearing loss, 48 percent had cerebral palsy, 46 percent had seizures, and 78 percent had severe developmental delay. The high incidence of multiple handicaps and significant medical problems indicates the necessity for interface between physicians and educators who serve the visually impaired infant.