Down Syndrome

Abstract

A total of 187 medical records of Down syndrome individuals over a 10-year period were reviewed retrospectively for strabismus, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, nystagmus, cataract, glaucoma, and other significant eye findings. This study showed that a higher proportion of these individuals than reported in previous studies had strabismus (57%). Refractive errors of myopia (22.5%), hyperopia (20.9%) and astigmatism (22%) were common. The primary care physician needs to be aware of the specific eye problems of Down syndrome individuals so that he or she may initiate or refer the patient for appropriate ophthalmologic care, because most of the eye findings in Down syndrome are treatable. Significant visual loss, a usually avoidable event in Down syndrome, should occur rarely.