A Study on Quality of Life and Self Esteem in children and adolescents with Strabismus

ABSTRACT

Background/Context Strabismus is a condition that results in loss of self esteem and affects quality of lifedue to the changes it may cause in facial appearance and other factors. There is a dearth of Indian literatureon children and adolescents with strabismus. The current study analyzed self esteem and quality of life inchildren and adolescents with strabismus.Methods: Children and adolescents between 6-17 years attending the ophthalmology out-patient departmentof a tertiary general hospital and their normal siblings were identified and assessed after parental consentusing a semi-structured proforma and the KINDL questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed andpresented.Results: 35 children and adolescents with strabismus were compared to 38 siblings who were the controls.It was seen that children and adolescents with strabismus scored lower on family and social contacts qualityof life scores on all subscales of the KINDL questionnaire. However, self-esteem did not differ across bothgroups.Conclusion: Further larger studies in diverse populations are needed to corroborate the effects of strabismuson self esteem and quality of life.