New trends in childhood vision impairment in a developed country

The Education Vision Assessment Clinic (EVAC) is a unique statewide service that reviews school children 4-18 years of age with low vision in Victoria, Australia, to determine their eligibility for educational support. The purpose of this study was to identify causes of vision impairment in students in Victoria using data from the EVAC. Data collected from students who attended the EVAC at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, between the years 2003 and 2012 inclusive, were analyzed retrospectively. Participants were identified through the EVAC schedule of medical appointments. Medical records were reviewed for clinical and demographic information, including diagnosis of vision impairment and best-corrected visual acuity and/or visual fields. Of 543 students, 355 (65%) were eligible for educational assistance. Of those, 249 (70%) had best-corrected visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/200 and/or a field of vision of