Visual defects in cases of Down's syndrome and in other mentally handicapped children.

Abstract

THIS study is based on a survey of children of school age attending a Junior Training Centre. Considering the difficulty of assessing both the visual acuity and the significance of ocular defects in these children, it is not surprising that the school doctors should have asked for a special investigation of the problem. Formal visual acuity estimations and ophthalmic supervision such as is provided for children in ordinary schools had not been undertaken, so that the teaching staff did not know how great a part visual defects might be playing in the children's behaviour and educability.