Birth Defects and Visual Impairment

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on birth defects and blindness that may be of research or practical value to blindness workers are surveyed. Two of those studies, the Collaborative Perinatal Project and the Birth Defects Monitoring Program, both federally operated, were described to a recent American Foundation for the Blind “Research Seminar on Birth Defects/Blindness and Severe Vision Impairment.” * Recent advances in genetic counseling and genetic diagnosis–particularly fetal diagnosis through the study of fetal cell samples obtained by amniocentesis–are explored as new tools through which blindness workers can assist clients who may wish to minimize their risk of bearing a blind or otherwise defective baby, through therapeutic abortion of afflicted fetuses.