Nuha Fath Elrahman
Al-Neelain University, Sudan
Title: Infantile blindness: Causes and role of inheritance
Biography
Biography: Nuha Fath Elrahman
Abstract
The study is considered to be the first study in Sudan concerned with children who were born blind. It was aimed to find
out the main causes of born blindness, and the role of inheritance through their families. The study was done in Khartoum
State- Sudan. Any subject who was registered as blind since birth, his visual acuity 3/60 or less and agreed to participate in
this study was included. Permission was taken from the leader of the centers of blinds. Verbal consent was obtained before
examinations. Personal demographic data, history, visual acuity test and refraction, ocular examinations were taken. A
questionnaire was used to assess parent's relationship and history of blindness. A total number of 211 subjects were screened,
120 subjects (56.87%) were suitable. 75.83% males and 24.17% females. Their mean age was 23.15±8.1 years. The causes of
born blindness were congenital cataract (28.33%), corneal abnormalities (28.33%), optic nerve defects (27.5%) and retinal
abnormalities (5.83). Structural abnormalities (3.33%) and 6.68% of the subjects were without ocular anatomical defects. 75%
of the subjects showed positive family history of blindness, 93.33% of the subject's parents were related (71.66% of the parents
were of 1st degree cousins, 10% are 2nd degree and 11.67% far relationship). 75% of childhood blindness was inherited (51.66%
autosomal recessive, 9.17% autosomal dominant, 14.17% X-linked, 25% isolated cases).