In a study of 98 children with cerebral palsy, 67 (68%) had either gross ocular defects or significant refractive errors, or both.Only 20 children were known to be under the care of an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologic recommendations were indicated for 69 children.Seventeen children had a visual handicap severe enough to warrant special educational measures. Forty-three children were found to have strabismus, the most frequent ocular defect found. This was approximately evenly divided between esotropia and exotropia. Children with the spastic types of cerebral palsy had twice as many ocular defects and twice as many refractive errors as the athetoid types.A complete ophthalmologic evaluation of every child with cerebral palsy is recommended as part of the total examination of the child.
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