Dr. SWATI PHULJHELE

DR. NIRANJANA BALASUBRAMANIAM, DR. ROHIT SAXENA, DR. PRADEEP SHARMA

Abstract

Purpose: To study the relationship of the visual impairment with the clinical severity of HIE.

Method: Children between 6-60 months of age diagnosed as peri-natal HIE were recruited. A complete ophthalmological and paediatric examination was carried out. All children were subjected to cycloplegic refraction and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by Teller’s Acuity Card, flash Visual Evoked Response (VER) were recorded.

Results: 60 children were divided into 3 groups based on severity. No statistically significant relationship between birth weight or prematurity and the clinical severity of HIE. Mean BCVA in HIE grade I, II, & III was 0.82 ± 0.2, 1.28 ± 0.4, 1.43 ± 0.1 respectively (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in VEP among 3 grades of HIE. Social maturity showed statistically significant relationship with BCVA. Conclusion: Visual impairment had a significant relationship with clinical severity and negatively effects the social maturity of these children.