The Needs of Treatment for Children in Schools for Blind in Bandung City and District, West Java, Indonesia

1. Syumarti Mansyur¹
2. Ine Renata Musa²
3. Nelandriani Yudapratiwi³

¹Cicendo Eye Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
²Cbm Indonesia

Blind children in schools for blind were often having not identified well before parents or family let them be educated in the schools. Some of the eye problem maybe can be treated.

Purpose: To find out the children who need treatment for their eye problem in schools for blind.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 7 schools for blind in Bandung district/city, west Java, Indonesia. Eye examination was performed by an ophthalmologist who is consultant in Low Vision unit, data was collected using "(WHO) Prevention of Blindness eye examination record for children with blindness and Low Vision".

Results: There were 54 children age 6-15 years old be examined, 1 child with Visual Impairment, 3 children with Severe Visual Impairment, 50 children with blind (28 children with Light Perception, 22 children with No Light Perception). Cataract is the cause of blindness of 12 children (22.2%), corneal scar is the cause of blindness of 5 (9.25%) children, rest of them the blindness was due to whole globe abnormality, Retina disorder and optic nerve disorder. Five children can improve their visual acuity with spectacles and Low Vision Devices were useful in 6 children.

Conclusion: Spectacles, Low Vision devices and cataract surgery were needed for 33 children and recommendation have been given to 6 children to study in regular school.