Ocular Findings in Children with Down's Syndrome

ABSTRACT

In order to identify the characteristic ocular findings in Down's syndrome(DS), 123 Korean children with DS prospectively underwent ocular examination, including visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ocular motility, cycloplegic refraction, and ophthalmoscopy. The ocular findings in decreasing prevalence were the followingupward slanting of the palpebral fissure(78 patients, 63%), epicanthus(75 patients, 61%), epiblepharon(66 patients, 54%), astigmatism(38 patients, 31%), hyperopia(35 patients, 28%), myopia(31 patients, 25%), strabismus(31 patients, 25%, 18 esotropia and 13 exotropia), nystagmus(27 patients, 22%), nasolacrimal duct obstruction(21 patients, 17%), blepharoconjunctivitis(20 patients, 16%), retinal abnormalities(18 patients, 15%), cataract(4 patients, 13%), and glaucoma(1 patient, 0.8%). Brushfield spots and keratoconus were not found. The ocular findings in Korean children with DS are characterized as an unreported, high incidence of epiblepharon, the highest rate of exotropia as reported, and no cases of Brushfield spots. The difference in the incidence of these ocular abnormalities according to race and age should be considered in every patient with DS.