Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of visual impairment in all developed countries.
Individuals with CVI often have eyes that function normally but the message that is received in the brain from the eyes is not able to be processed normally. It is an invisible form of visual impairment that is often not identified in early childhood.
CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in all developed countries
Is associated with:
- Asphyxia
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Periventricular leukomalacia
- Metabolic disorder
- Chromosomal disorders
- Seizures
- Cooling protocol
- Abnormal neurological exam
- Stroke
- Congenital abnormalities
- Infection, congenital or acquired
- Trauma
CVI is a disability of access
Criteria for identifying CVI:
- Eye exam that does not explain the individuals functional use of vision
- History of a brain condition, trauma, or damage associated with CVI
- The presence of certain visual and behavioral characteristics
CVI (cortical visual impairment)
A form of visual impairment often misunderstood.
CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in children, but may be undetected.
Symptoms of possible CVI:
Children with CVI may
- Stare at light
- Have difficulty with faces
- Show little interest in books
- Become upset or fall asleep in new or noisy places
- Seem to mostly notice objects or events close to them
- Show interest in a familiar group of activities
CVI is not a condition of the eye; it is a condition in which children may look at objects, but not easily interpret what they see.
