AIM: To evaluate the visual impairment in cerebral palsy children with series objective indicators, and conclude their clinical features of visual function.

METHODS: Objective tests including following pursuing test, optokinetic nystagmus(OKN)drum test, refractive error examination, fundus examination, ocular deviation examination, pattern visual evoked potential(P-VEP)tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)were carried out in 43 cerebral palsy children(86 eyes)with ocular visual dysfunction; The visual impairment data of the cerebral palsy children were collected, and the clinical features and possible mechanism were analyzed.

RESULTS: 1. Of the 43 cerebral palsy children(86 eyes)with the visual impairment presented diversified, 25(50 eyes, 58.1%)of refractive error, 24(48 eyes, 55.8%)of strabismus, 12(24 eyes, 27.9%)with nystagmus, 19(38 eyes, 44.2%)of optical nerve atrophy or hyperplasia, 35(70 eyes, 81.4%)of VEP abnormality. Among children with spastic cerebral palsy, the incidence of visual impairment was statistically significant difference compared with other groups(P<0.01). 2. There were 16 cases(32 eyes, 37.2%)with esotropia, 6 cases(12 eyes, 14.0%)with exotropia and 2 cases(4 eyes, 4.7%)with vertical deviation. Strabismus was most common in spastic cerebral palsy children, totally 13(26 eyes, 30.2%)with esotropia, and exotropia was common in hypotonia and other types cerebral palsy children; 3. 23(46 eyes, 53.5%)with hyperopia, 8(16 eyes, 18.6%)with myopia, 16(32 eyes, 37.2%)with astigmutism and 14 cases(28 eyes, 32.6%)with anisometropia; 4. Cerebral palsy children were usually with decreased VEP amplitude and prolong latency, and poor wave formation, mostly in spastic cerebral palsy children; 5. Visual abnormality was most common in occipital cortex damage and periventricular leukomalacia(PVL). The incidence in PVL and occipital cortex had no statistically significant difference(P>0.05), no nystagmus in patients with severe occipital cortex damage.

CONCLUSION: Cerebral palsy children were usually with visual impairment, and presented with special clinical features; Comprehensive objective visual tests are accurate and reliable for evaluation of the visual function in cerebral palsy children.