Prakash Adhikari

Visual defects in Nepalese children with Down syndrome

Background:  Down syndrome (DS) is a common chromosomal anomaly. People with this syndrome have recognisable physical characteristics and limited intellectual abilities. The aim of this study was to determine visual defects, especially refractive error and binocular anomalies, in a sample of Nepalese children with DS.

Waardenburg syndrome: Waardenburg syndrome

Waardenburg syndrome is a group of genetic conditions that can cause hearing loss and changes in coloring (pigmentation) of the hair, skin, and eyes. Although most people with Waardenburg syndrome have normal hearing, moderate to profound hearing loss can occur in one or both ears. The hearing loss is present from birth (congenital). People with this condition often have very pale blue eyes or different colored eyes, such as one blue eye and one brown eye. Sometimes one eye has segments of two different colors. Distinctive hair coloring (such as a patch of white hair or hair that prematurely turns gray) is another common sign of the condition. The features of Waardenburg syndrome vary among affected individuals, even among people in the same family.

Cataract, strabismus and chorioretinal coloboma in paediatric HIV infection

Both figures show that the centre of the lenses (devoted to far distance) does not reach the nominal distance power of the lens (−3.0 D), being slightly more positive. A higher nominal power of the lenses implies a higher addition, however, this may impact on distance vision. Therefore, this positive over-correction (around 0.5 D) should be taken into consideration by clinicians at the moment of prescribing the nominal power of these lenses. Finally, it should be mentioned that a decentration of these annular designs could alter their optical performance. Hence, after the current analysis it is clear that the studies that will analyse the effectiveness of these lenses on myopia progression should properly control two parameters: the pupil dynamic of the patients and the centration of the lenses. In summary, the myopia control CL seems to show some optical improvements for the use of these lenses in children. Nevertheless, future studies should analyse if these optical features are enough in terms of effective myopia control of the patients and the visual effects that this design could cause.