Abstract

Purpose: To report clinical profile & referral significance of pediatric patients (<16yrs) referred from tertiary pediatric centers to a tertiary eye care center.
Methods: 939 patients (Jan19 to June23) were studied. Detailed history, systemic & ocular examination, investigations, treatment and referral significance were analysed.
Results: Common systemic diagnosis were cerebral palsy (31%), encephalopathy (18%) & metabolic syndromes (14%). Cerebral visual impairment (53%) & optic nerve pathology (32%) were most common ocular findings. 17% needed glass correction. 3.5%, each, needed acute medical ocular care and (extra)ocular surgical intervention. Significance of referral were–ocular diagnostic +therapeutic value (37%); ocular diagnostic+prognostic value (30%); systemic diagnostic+/-therapeutic value (8.4%); detection of underlying life threatening condition (3%).
Conclusion: The clinical profile of pediatric systemic and ocular diseases is varied and has a significant referral value.