Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI)
CVI Facts
Cortical Vision Impairment is a vision impairment that occurs due to damage within visual pathways of the brain.
Cortical Vision Impairment is the leading cause of vision impairments for children. Approximately 30-40% of children with vision impairments have cortical vision impairment. (source: CVI connect)
A child with CVI may have had an eye exam in which a doctor says their vision is not of concern regarding eye health. CVI is how well the child visually interprets what they see, not visual details.
Children at risk for Cortical Vision Impairment include children who are premature, seizures, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, drug exposure, hypoxic or other neurological impairments.
Children with CVI may be attracted to a preferred color (red, yellow, blue, green), shiny metallic items, light gaze. Children can be slow to visually explore, look away from faces, complex toys or busy environments.
Children with CVI may look, look away before reaching, look out of the corner of their eye, shake head back and forth frequently, and have difficulty with isolating a finger for pointing.
Children with CVI can learn and meet their goals with individualized supports in their daily activities.
“Children with cortical vision impairment challenge us to see the world through their eyes and their hearts for they shine brightly among us!"
- Lynda Crouch, CLVT,OTR/L, ATP
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