Visual field constriction in children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus

Object. Many ophthalmological abnormalities are described in conjunction with hydrocephalus. The results of visual field diagnosis remain a matter of further discussion. The aim of this study was to investigate visual field deficits in children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus. Methods. All children over 6 years of age treated for hydrocephalus at the authors' institute between December 2007 and December 2008 were included in the study. The children underwent an ophthalmological investigation for strabismus and binocular function, ophthalmoscopy, visual acuity, and refraction. The special focus was the visual field diagnosis, which the authors established in all children with cognitive conditions. The investigation was made by using the Goldmann visual field examination (kinetic perimetry). Children with and without visual field defects were compared concerning age at the time of ophthalmological examination, genesis of hydrocephalus, and frontooccipital horn ratio measured on current CT or MR images. Results. Complete investigations were undertaken in 56 children (24 girls and 32 boys, mean age 15.1 years). The following orthoptic pathological entities were diagnosed: 29 children have a strabismus in 29 cases, 17 of these have an exotropia, 12 an esotropia, 4 children a hypotropia, 2 a hypertropia and 3 children a heterophoria. A nystagmus was found in 10 children. The ocular fundus investigation showed 13 children with an optic nerve atrophy. A visual field diagnosis was possible in 44 of the 56 patients and was incomplete in 12 patients with cognitive deficits or inadequate compliance. In 24 of 42 children there was a concentric visual field constriction between 10 degrees and 50 degrees out of the center. Children with visual field deficits were older than those with a normal visual field (p = 0.051). Nine of 10 children with postmenigitic hydrocephalus had a visual field defect (p = 0.025). In children with visual field defects the frontooccipital horn ratio was significantly higher (p = 0.013). Conclusions. The results suggest that children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus have a higher risk of having ophthalmological abnormalities. Visual field deficits are often a problem in these patients. A diagnostic visual field examination can complete the ophthalmological monitoring in patients with hydrocephalus, especially in patients with large ventricles. Children with postmeningitic hydrocephalus should be ophthalmologically monitored more frequently and intensively. (DOI: 10.3171/2010.8.PEDS1042)