ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: Purpose: To document the incidence of ocular abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Retrospectively, the records of 18 children that were diagnosed and followed up for cerebral palsy in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus clinic were examined. Results: The mean age of the patients was 5.7 years (10 months-19 years). Preterm birth history was present in 38.9% of the patients. Strabismus was detected in 15 cases (83,3%), 3 cases (16,6%) had esotropia and 12 cases had exotropia-exophoria (61,1%). Fixation reflex was poor in 2 cases and visual acuities varied from positive fixation reflex to 20/20. Optic nerve pallor was detected in 7 cases (38,9%). Associated systemic anomalies were flaccid or spastic upper and lower extremities and mild to severe mental retardation. Conclusion: Even though cerebral palsy is accepted to be related to preterm birth, it can be seen at term babies as well. Due to high incidence of ocular abnormalities, complete ophthalmological examination should be a part of routine assessment and follow-up of the children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Even though there is no high refractive error, visual acuities were subnormal because of associated cerebral pathologies and unreliable visual acuity measurements associated with mental retardation and cooperation insufficiency.