Biosocial consequences of poverty : Associated visual problems

Although the impact of poverty on the health and development of children is readily acknowledged, the extent of accompanying visual functional and perceptual-motor disorders has not received very much attention. These visual disorders are shown to be linked with poverty. In particular, research studies to support the notion that neurointegrative and concomitant visual problems can be the result of malnutrition, low birthweight, teenage pregnancy, and maternal complications of pregnancy are cited and discussed. The association between perceptuocognitive functioning in children and sociodemographic factors are examined and related to central nervous system maturation in a hostile environment. The role of the optometrist in diagnosing and treating children with visual and neurointegrative problems is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the potential for optometric intervention to improve the ability of disadvantaged children to respond more effectively to classroom learning and enable them to make fuller use of the intelligence they possess. The authors recommend that optometrists play a vital role in their communities to ensure the rendering of appropriate professional treatment for economically impoverished and socially disadvantaged children.