PURPOSE: To assess the highest educational level attained by patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional assessment. METHODS: Patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment (documented best-corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in each eye either before or up to the age of 22 years) were included in the study. Information concerning the highest level of education attained was obtained for all participants by an interview. RESULTS: Of the 33 participants, 32 completed high school. Either an associate's or bachelor's degree was attained by 21 patients (63.6%), whereas 3 patients (9.1%) were enrolled in college at the time of the interview. Further, a postgraduate degree (master's or doctorate) was attained by 7 patients (21.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings document that the potential for attaining a higher degree of academic education beyond high school does not seem to be precluded by clinically significant visual impairment in Stargardt patients. This information can be useful for visual practitioners when counseling these patients and their families.
PURPOSE: To assess the highest educational level attained by patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional assessment. METHODS:Patients with Stargardt disease and clinically significant visual impairment (documented best-corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in each eye either before or up to the age of 22 years) were included in the study. Information concerning the highest level of education attained was obtained for all participants by an interview. RESULTS: Of the 33 participants, 32 completed high school. Either an associate's or bachelor's degree was attained by 21 patients (63.6%), whereas 3 patients (9.1%) were enrolled in college at the time of the interview. Further, a postgraduate degree (master's or doctorate) was attained by 7 patients (21.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings document that the potential for attaining a higher degree of academic education beyond high school does not seem to be precluded by clinically significant visual impairment in Stargardtpatients. This information can be useful for visual practitioners when counseling these patients and their families.
Authors: Tomas R Burke; Gerald A Fishman; Jana Zernant; Carl Schubert; Stephen H Tsang; R Theodore Smith; Radha Ayyagari; Robert K Koenekoop; Allison Umfress; Maria Laura Ciccarelli; Alfonso Baldi; Alessandro Iannaccone; Frans P M Cremers; Caroline C W Klaver; Rando Allikmets Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2012-07-03 Impact factor: 4.799