Visual Impairment and Refractive Error Among Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners in Ghana

Introduction: This study aims to assess the prevalence of visual impairment and refractive error among learners who are deaf or hard of hearing in schools for Deaf students in Ghana. 

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to assess the distance visual acuity with the logMAR “E” chart, and ocular health was assessed with an ophthalmoscope and handheld slit lamp with a 90 D lens. 

Results: A total of 1,914 learners were examined in six schools for Deaf students in Ghana. Their ages ranged from 5 to 43 years (M = 15.18 ± 4.53 years). There were more males (55.5%) than females (44.5%) in the study. Among the learners, 91.1% were deaf, followed by mild hard of hearing (4.0%) and profound hard of hearing (1.8%), among others. Also, 94.8% of the learners had typical vision, followed by moderate visual impairment (2.5%), mild visual impairment (1.4%), and blindness (1.3%) before the provision of spectacles. There was no association between visual impairment (i.e., blindness and visual impairment) and sex among the learners (p <.05). The leading causes of visual impairments were refractive error and cataracts, while the leading cause of ocular morbidity was allergic conjunctivitis. The prevalence of visual impairment was reduced by almost 2-fold after the provision of spectacles. 

Discussion: The prevalence of deafblindness was low among the learners, with uncorrected refractive errors as the leading cause of mild and moderate visual impairment. If these learners had not been identified through this study, they would have continued to struggle to access the curriculum visually. 

Implications for Practitioners: There is a need to assess hearing and visual functions among learners with disabilities in developing countries like Ghana.