Visually-impaired children’s mental health woes

A study into the impact of mental health illnesses in visually impaired children revealed a correlation with increased depression and anxiety.

Among 36 studies conducted, visually-impaired and myopic children experienced higher levels of depression and anxiety than normally sighted children, while strabismus surgery improved symptoms.

The negative mental toll often came from factors such as the likelihood of not being able to take part in physical activities, having lower academic achievements, and being more socially isolated, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology journal.

The results suggested further trials are needed to understand correlations better, and recommended scaling up access to strabismus surgery and enabling early detection and management of mental health.