5 Visual Conditions

Ocular vs. neurological

The condition may be due to a problem with the eye (ocular) or the brain (neurological). Individuals can have a condition or conditions which impact both the eye and the brain.

Stable vs. progressive in nature

Some conditions are stable or even can improve with time (e.g., cerebral visual impairments), whereas others are associated with a decline in visual function (e.g., Stargardt’s disease). While progressive visual impairment will present uniquely for each individual, understanding the typical prognosis and timeline can assist in making intervention recommendations.

Congenital vs. adventitious

Some visual conditions are present from birth (congenital), whereas others occur later in life (adventitious). The timing of the visual impairment will impact the student’s experiences, concept development, and visual-spatial skill development.

Common visual conditions in childhood

To learn more about a specific visual condition and its potential impact on a student’s education, check out the following resources:

• The Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI, n.d.) provides a list of visual conditions and their educational impact.
• The California School for the Blind (n.d.) lists causes of vision loss and suggestions for support.

Significant differences exist in the prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision worldwide. The three most common causes of visual impairment in children in the United States are as follows (Kong et al., 2012; Steinkuller et al., 1999):

• Cortical/Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a condition where there is damage to the visual cortex of the brain. The most common cause of CVI is inadequate blood or oxygen supply to an infant’s brain near the time of birth. A majority of children with CVI have additional neurological problems, such as seizures or cerebral palsy. CVI is covered in more depth in the next section.
• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disorder associated with being born premature and the application of oxygen therapy when in intensive care. It is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth that occurs in premature infants, which can lead to scarring and retinal detachment (PRCVI, n.d.).
• Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (Scott, 2022) is a stable, congenital condition in which the optic nerves are too small. It can affect one or both eyes and can lead to decreased acuity. ONH can also be associated with endocrine dysfunction that may result in hormone deficiencies.

References