What characteristics are linked with adolescent blindness and severe visual impairment
Reviewed by Lauren Hepworth

The authors present a retrospective cohort analysis which aimed to characterise the risk factors for adolescents being blind or severely visually impaired. The publicly available National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was used as the data source and was exempt from ethical approval. The sample taken from the NSDUH (2020 edition) included children 12–17 years of age with self-reported blindness or severe visual impairment despite use of refractive correction. The following data were extracted: demographics, family income, history of arrest, other health issues including difficulty hearing, concentrating, decision-making and walking. Uni and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. There was roughly even distribution between gender and age groups. Females, non-Hispanic Asian, Hispanic, individuals reporting difficulties with hearing and concentrating all had increased odds of severe visual impairment or blindness. These factors should be taken into account in the future when planning screening programmes.

Characteristics associated with blindness or visual impairment within the adolescent demographic: a national cohort analysis.
Hussain ZS, Heath MT, Ding K, Siatkowski RM.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2023;27:333.