Functional Visual Loss in Children.

Kang, Yong Hong; Yu, Young Suk

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1996;37(12):2118-2124.
Published online December 1, 1996.

Functional Visual Loss in Children.

Yong Hong Kang, Young Suk Yu

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

소아의 기능적 시력상실

강용홍(Yong Hong Kang),유영석(Young Suk Yu)

Abstract

Funtional visual loss is the state of visual decrement without specific underlying organic causes. There had been no report in childhood in Korea. We reviewed the children's cases retrospectively to show the clinical characteristics that had been diagnosed functional visual loss. They visited one pediatric ophthalmologist in Seoul National University Hospital from August, 1988 to September, 1994. The numbers of the children who finally diagnosed in functional visual loss were sixteen, and the average age at diagnosis was 8.8 years. The prevalence was 1.04 % every year, and their chief compIaints wew binocular visual loss in 12 children, and monocular visual loss, unstable visual acuity, binocular visual loss with color sense abnormality, and binocular visual loss with strabismus in each 1 child. Their previous diagnosis before visiting our hospital was consisted of amblyopia in 11 children, optic atrophy in 1 child and retrobulbar neuritis in 1 child. Finally the 16 children proved to have normal visual acuity through fogging test using phoropter and their other problem also proved to be normal except one child who was anxiety disorder. We explained the state of patient to parent and did supportive therapy to the patient and parents. There were no recurrence of visual loss in our cases. As above the resuIts, functional visual loss in childhood was intended to diagnose to amblyopla or optlc neuropathy. So we should do careful examination not to waste efforts or costs.