Child abuse is often categorized into four subgroups: physical abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect, and emotional abuse. All types of child abuse may have ocular manifestations. It is estimated that 4% to 6% of all child abuse cases will first present to an ophthalmologist. In most developed countries, ophthalmologists would be considered mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. The suspicion need not be proven by the physician. Child protective agencies, the judicial system, and the police are entities responsible for determining whether the suspicion is validated and, if so, determining who the perpetrator is. The ophthalmologist’s responsibility is to report the ocular manifestations and the degree of certainty to which these findings support a diagnosis of abuse.

Inflicted eye injuries may be isolated, part of the battered child syndrome, or secondary to shaken baby syndrome. Long-term outcomes in abused children include visual loss due to amblyopia, injury, and the sequelae of brain injury (e.g., cortical visual impairment, visual field loss). Children who are victims of sexual abuse may experience the ocular effects of sexually transmitted disease (e.g., cytomegalovirus due to HIV infection [Chapter 19: Infectious Diseases, Figs. 19.9, 19.10 and 19.11]). Noncompliance and neglect are frequent problems in the ophthalmic care of children. Ophthalmologists will often see parents missing appointments made for their child and failing to comply with prescribed therapy such as patching without any apparent reason for doing so, such as financial or child care obstacles. Nonorganic failure to thrive, also known as psychosocial dwarfism, is a more dramatic and systemic manifestation of child neglect. Lastly, emotional abuse may have its ocular manifestation in what children are allowed to see. In today’s society, children are increasingly and inappropriately exposed to graphic if not real images of sexual activity, drug abuse, and violence. Emotional abuse also entails severe verbal belittlement and harsh discipline.

It may be difficult to draw distinct lines along the continuums that describe the many behaviors referred to as child abuse. In some cultures, actions such as spanking, coining, and even shaking may be acceptable practices. Marriage and sexual intercourse with young adolescents are accepted in some cultures as well. Child care practices and means of discipline vary widely around the world. However, as ophthalmologists, we must uphold a standard that protects children from harm and rely on public systems and personal advocacy aimed at following through on our suspicions in any individual case that a child may indeed be at risk for, if not already a victim of, child abuse.