• Ms Chubakatila Langur,
• Mrs Nirmali Gogoi

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is estimated that the prevalence (using under-5 mortality rate as country categories) of childhood blindness in low income countries is 1.5/1000 and in high income countries is 0.3/1000. The magnitude is 3/4 in poorest regions of Africa and Asia and an estimate of 1.4 million blind children globally with incidences 500,000 children /year. As Visual Impairment/Blindness in childhood is generally neither preventable nor treatable, interventions are directed mainly towards promoting optimal development and reducing the disability consequent upon the Visual Impairment. The outcomes of these efforts are captured by the concept of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Materials and methods: A descriptive explorative survey design was used to assess the effect of visual impairment on quality of life among blind children in selected blind schools in Guwahati, Assam. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of visual impairment on the quality of life among children in selected blind schools. A total of 60 samples were selected from Guwahati Blind High School using purposive sampling technique. The Low Vision Quality of Life tool was used to measure the quality of life. Frequency and percentage were calculated to determine the quality of life and demographic variables among blind children. Results and analysis: The findings of the study showed that out of total blind children(60), 22 (36.66%) had a good quality of life while 38(63.33%) had a bad quality of life,. Among the samples, most of them were in the age group of 11-15 years. Majority of samples were male 34(56.66%) as compared to females 26(43.33%). Most of the samples came from Hindu family i.e. 32 (53.33%). Majority i.e. 39(65%) were from nuclear family. Both partial and complete visual impairments were equal (50% each) in the samples. Visual impairment duration was more in more than 5 years (70%). Majority of the samples did not have a family history of blindness 93.33%. Majority of the samples had both eyes affected (96.66%). Discussion and conclusion: Around 1.4 million have irreversible blindness, requiring access to vision rehabilitation services to optimize functioning and reduce disability. Therefore identifying the contributing or related factors leading to visual impairment and campaigns to educate about vision function importance and awareness can bring about a multitude of change in setting a good life for the visually impaired.

Keywords: Visual impairment, Blind children, Quality of life, Effect, Children

"A study to assess the effect of visual impairment on quality of life among blind children in a blind school in Guwahati, Assam.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no.627-630, June-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806332.pdf

"A study to assess the effect of visual impairment on quality of life among blind children in a blind school in Guwahati, Assam.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no. pp627-630, June-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806332.pdf