VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ON CHILDREN

Visual impairment on children

Visual impairment on children

Definition of Visual Impairment

The vision may be defined as the ability to detect light and interpret it (WRIGHT, 2011, pp. 246). Its purpose is to determine the understanding and shape of the objects, color and brightness. A visual impairment is the result of loss of functional vision, not a disease of the eye itself.  In the educational context, the terms partially sighted, low vision, legally blind and blind are used to describe the severity of visual impairment. They may be defined as:

"Partial view" indicates that some specific vision problem has resulted in the need for special education services;

"Low vision" generally refers to a severe visual impairment, not necessarily short for distance vision. Low vision applies to all individuals with some degree of vision but who cannot read the newspaper at a normal distance, even with the aid of glasses or contact lenses. 

"Legally blind" indicates that a person has less than 20/200 in the better eye or a limited field of view (20 degrees maximum).

"Totally blind" indicates the total lack of vision.

As noted, the term visual impairment does not refer to a disorder of the eye itself, but eye disorders can lead to visual impairments, such as retinal degeneration, albinism, cataracts, glaucoma, muscular problems that arise in visual disturbances, cornea disorders, diabetes, compulsive disorders and disease (Houwen, Visscher, Hartman, & Koen, 2007, pp. 19).

Visual impairment occurs in 12.2 of every 1,000 individuals under 18 years of age. The severe visual impairments (legally or totally blind) occur at a rate of .06 per 1,000 (SWAMINATHAN, 2011, pp. 1-2).

The effect of visual impairment in the child's development depends on how severe the type of loss, and age at which the condition appears, and the overall performance level of the child. Many children with multiple disabilities may also have visual impairments, which result in delays in the understanding and social skills. A young child with visual impairments has little reason to explore interesting objects in the environment and therefore may he/she may miss opportunities to experience and learn different things.

Most common causes of visual impairment in children

Visually hereditary diseases

Degenerative myopia (progressive degeneration of visual acuity).

Albinism (partial or total lack of pigment).

Color blindness (color blindness).

Aniridia (iris underdeveloped or absent).

Retinoblastoma (tumor of the retina that affects bilaterally, without treatment)

Retinitis pigmentosa (pigmentary degeneration of the retina), etc.

Eye Deficiencies or malformation of congenital origin Eye

a. Endothelial Dystrophy: diseases that affect the clear outer layer of the eye called the cornea.

b. Congenital Glaucoma A defective development of the escape routes of aqueous humor. In the first weeks or months of life it will appear watery and the child will not be able to keep his eyes open when there is light (photophobia).The cornea loses its transparency and is white. Simultaneously, the eye increases in size as a result of increased pressure inside. Parents should be especially careful with children who have much larger eyes than other children of same age, especially if the light bothers them.

c. Congenital cataract lens opacities are those that occur in the first three months of ...