Orbis International (Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to the preservation of vision worldwide) released results of a study that found children with myopia and strabismus often experienced significantly reduced quality of life compared to those without vision impairment.

Published in Ophthalmology, the study also finds that surgical treatment of strabismus improves quality of life among children, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment of strabismus for children.

The study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the links between quality of life in children and vision impairment, ocular morbidities and their treatment.

Quality of life and mental health are increasingly being recognized as important global health concerns. With an estimated 70 million children experiencing vision impairment around the world, understanding the impact of these conditions on mental health is critical.

A child's vision function is assessed by clarity or sharpness of their vision. However, this approach does not measure a child's perception of their own visual impairment and ability to successfully complete daily tasks. For example, chronic eye conditions that may not affect central vision but have other negative impacts, like strabismus, have been shown to cause physical, educational and socioemotional difficulties in their daily lives.

This study is a companion research study that found children with myopia and strabismus were diagnosed with higher rates of depression and anxiety than children without vision impairment.

The study provided the most compelling evidence yet that child dehydration is linked to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. This study gives an even wider picture of a child's mental health, including quality of life, wellbeing and self-esteem. That is, we now have a full story about how not leaving for a child can heal a child's mental health problems.

To read more: https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/study-children-with-vision-impairment-have-reduced-quality-of-life