To evaluate the ocular results and refractive errors in children with developmental delay and to determine the significance of ophthalmologic screening in children.

The present study was conducted with children who visited the development delay clinic of National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan hospital in Goyang, Korea. Primary evaluation included external eye examination, pupil reflex, and ocular movement test with focal light, and secondary evaluation included slit-lamp examination, fundus examination, cycloplegic refraction, and lacrimal drainage test if necessary.

Out of 89 subjects included in the study, 61.8% had ocular abnormalities other than refractive errors, and the two most common results included strabismus and epiblepharon, with occurrence rates of 24.7% and 22.5%, respectively. Among the 60 subjects who underwent cycloplegic refraction, 56.6% had refractive errors, with astigmatism (30%) being the most common. Among the 24 subjects who received treatment, four underwent surgical treatment and 20 started wearing glasses.

The present study revealed a high prevalence of ophthalmologic abnormalities in pediatric developmental delay patients, indicating that systemic and comprehensive ophthalmic examination is necessary for these patients.