Visual Image Quality Reduced in Down Syndrome
Individuals with Down syndrome show reduced visual acuity and visual image quality compared to those without the condition.
A study published in the journal Optometry & Vision Science found that both visual acuity and visual image quality are reduced in individuals with Down syndrome, even when wearing optimized spectacle correction.
The researchers suggest that a sensory deficit in the visual system, either in the eye, retina, or at the cortical level, may contribute to this reduction, along with uncorrected aberrations.
Differences in retinal thickness and dendritic spines were also observed in patients with Down syndrome.
The study enrolled 30 adult patients with Down syndrome, with an average age of 29±10 years, to investigate the association between reduced visual acuity and visual image quality.
A sensory deficit in the visual system, in either the eye or retina or at the cortical level may be part of the reason along with uncorrected aberrations.
Author's summary: Down syndrome affects visual image quality.