Heart defects and ocular anomalies in children with Down's syndrome

Abstract

AIMS: To investigate whether ocular anomalies are associated with congenital heart defects in children with Down's syndrome. METHODS: 58 children with Down's syndrome were entered into a retrospective observational study. Children were assigned to heart defect groups based on medical records. Optometric tests had previously been carried out at the homes of the children. RESULTS: A relation between congenital cardiac defects, myopia, and nystagmus was observed. Heart problems were not related to accommodative insufficiency, hyperopia, or strabismus. CONCLUSION: In children with Down's syndrome heart defects were associated with both myopia and nystagmus.