What is Cortical Visual Impairment?
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a condition where some of the special ‘vision’ parts of the brain and its connections are damaged. This causes visual impairment even though the eyes are usually normal and probably working. Often children with CVI actually have good visual acuity but can not ‘make sense’ of what they see. In most cases, once the damage has happened it does not get worse. As children grow older the visual difficulties they experience may slowly improve. How is the diagnosis made? If a child is suspected to have visual impairment an assessment can be organised. Sometimes it is the parents who notice (by the way their child acts) that their child’s vision is impaired. If they discuss this with their Family Doctor an assessment can be arranged. In most children damage to the brain may already have been diagnosed. The doctors looking after the child may then also suspect poor vision. CVI can be diagnosed in a child who has: Visual Difficulty Damage to the ‘vision’ parts
