Knowledge of Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) in Children among Eye Care Professionals in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Published in: Journal of Health Science and Medical Research
• Main Author: Ibrahim W.N.A.; Ahmad Razlan N.A.H.; Juan W.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85208809845&doi=10.31584%2fjhsmr.20241105&partnerID=40&md5=b1d05466bed95ac7b3b07efca7d6c379

Objective: Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), a brain-based visual disorder that affects neural networks that process incoming visual information throughout the brain, poses challenges in diagnosis and managing visual impairment in children. With the prevalence rise in CVI cases among children, there is a growing demand for ophthalmologists and optometrists to address these conditions, emphasising the importance of improving knowledge and awareness for better visual rehabilitation. This study intends to quantify the level of understanding of CVI in children among eye care professionals in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Material and Methods: Two hundred thirty registered eye care professionals, including ophthalmologists and optometrists across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, participated in this cross-sectional web-based survey. A standardised questionnaire was created through Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms between April and June 2022. Results: The finding showed that the eye care professionals have significantly basic knowledge regarding CVI in children (x2=369; df=2; p-value≤0.01). Most respondents correctly identified variable loss of vision, visual field defects, and abnormal behaviour as clinical features of CVI in children. Additionally, over half of the respondents selected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the appropriate investigation choice. Conclusion: These findings indicate that eye care professionals have basic knowledge and awareness of CVI in children. More research is needed to enhance knowledge and raise awareness about CVI in children among eye-care professionals. © 2024 JHSMR.