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Title	Ocular abnormalities among children with Down Syndrome. A retrospective study.
Abstract Nr.	1050

Purpose	Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by trisomy of all, or part, of the long arm of human chromosome 21. The purpose of the present study is to review the results of careful ocular assessment performed in young children diagnosed with DS.
Methods	The ophthalmic characteristics were retrospectively studied in 35 children diagnosed with DS at the Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital of Brussels, during the past 10 years. The ophthalmological evaluation included best corrected visual acuity, refraction, study of the ocular motility, slit lamp and eye fundus examination.
Results	The most common ocular findings consisted in refractive errors, strabismus, nystagmus, eyelid or lacrimal disorders, cataract, and retinal abnormalities. Significant refractive defects were encountered for the majority of the patients (97%) Strabismus was diagnosed in thirteen (37%) patients. Ten patients (29%) were diagnosed with esotropia, whereas two patients (6%) presented with exotropia, and one with vertical strabismus. Nystagmus was present in five cases (14%). Slit lamp biomicroscopy showed 3 cases of lens opacification and one case of corectopia. Three children suffered from blepharitis, and a lacrimal obstruction was diagnosed in one patient. Eye funduscopy showed two cases with chorio-retinal anomalies, and one case with optic nerve edema.
Conclusion	Considering that DS are characterized by a high incidence of refractive errors, ocular motility disorders, and ocular structural abnormalities, these results confirm the necessity of comprehensive and regular ophthalmological assessment in children with such a disease.

Authors 1

Last name	POSTOLACHE
Initials	L
Department	HUDERF
City	BRUXELLES

Authors 2

Last name	MONIER
Initials	A
Department	HUDERF
City	BRUXELLES

Authors 3

Last name	MEIRE
Initials	F
Department	HUDERF
City	BRUXELLES

Authors 4

Last name	BEBY
Initials	F
Department	HUDERF
City	BRUXELLES