Understanding the diagnosis: Childhood visually impairing conditions

Presented on Thursday 1 November 2007

Quick overview of Types and Causes Visual Impairment

Dr Andrew Blaikie, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Fife

How many children with VI?

• Prevalence at least 20 per 10 000
• In Scotland 1 000 000 children U16
• Theoretically over 2000 children with VI

What are the causes of VI?

Anatomical Site

Additional Disabilities

Additional Disabilities & Anatomical Site

Characteristics of children with VI

• Brain main cause
• Have complex forms of VI
• Tend to have other additional disabilities
• Communication difficulties

For both reasons challenging to assess and understand what is really going on

Visual Acuity

Timing of cause of VI

Gender

Summary

• Brain
• Additional Disabilities
• Challenging
• Often not registered/notified