Awareness regarding cortical visual impairment in children among eye care professionals

Abstract

OJECTIVE: To determine the level of awareness pertaining to Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) in children among Eye Care Professionals (ECP).

METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences from September to
December 2021. An online pre validated questionnaire was sent toEye Care Professionals and they were asked different questions
regarding prevalence, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, investigations, management and prognosis of CVI in children. SPSS 21 software was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: Total 68 eye care professionals were included in the study.All the participants were aware of the term CVI. 72.1% were aware
about the main cause of CVI and 47.1% knew about the leading causes of visual impairment in developing countries. Only 23.5% accurately knew about the clinical features of CVI and 58.8% were aware of the most common risk factor for CVI in children. 54.4% ECP knew about the differential diagnosis of CVI and 83.8% were aware that children with CVI need an eye examination. 80.9% participants were aware that CVI can be managed through multidisciplinary rehabilitative approach and 76.5% had accurate knowledge regarding visual prognosis in CVI.

CONCLUSION: Eye care professionals had fair knowledge of CVI in children i.e., regarding their causes, features, investigations,
management and prognosis etc. There is a need to improve awareness regarding CVI among ECP so that future strategies can be planned and implemented for effective management and treatment of CVI.

KEY WORDS: Awareness, Cortical visual impairment, Orthoptics, optometry, Ophthalmology