Ocular and health conditions of patients with learning disabilities
- A85
- Patients with learning disabilities can have the same range of visual problems as the general population. It has been estimated that people with learning disabilities are ten times more likely to have specific ocular conditions,28 including:
- amblyopia
- blepharitis – common in people with Down’s syndrome
- cataract
- concomitant strabismus
- cortical visual impairment
- entropion – common in people with Down’s syndrome
- field defects
- high refractive error – especially myopia and astigmatism
- impaired accommodation
- keratoconus
- nystagmus
- reduced vision.
- A86
- Some people with learning disabilities may also have a wider range of health problems than the general population and may have other disabilities, including hearing impairment.
References
28 Emerson E, Robertson J (2011) The estimated prevalence of visual impairment among people with learning difficulties in the UK. London: RNIB [Accessed 26 Oct 2017]