UNC Ophthalmology joins the American Association of Ophthalmology in September to spread awareness of a lesser-known type of ocular impairment originates in the brain’s visual center (visual cortex) – Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).
During National Cortical Visual Impairment Awareness Month, parents are encouraged to learn more about the leading cause of visual impairment in children in the U.S. and developed world. CVI is caused by brain damage linked to congenital and childhood neurological problems, as well as structural and functional abnormalities in the visual cortex due to injuries and cerebral trauma. Signs of CVI starting as early as infancy include: prematurity, decreased blood supply and oxygenation, brain malformation or infection, hydrocephalus, seizure, metabolic disease, infection, head trauma and other neurologic disorders.
CVI is a trickier condition to diagnose in children. Comprehensive eye exams characteristically produce no signs of CVI in normal eyes with normal that show no functional issues or challenges with visual acuity and/or contrast sensitivity. CVI is most commonly diagnosed when a child’s vision shows major signs of cerebral malfunction from damaged cerebral areas that cannot effectively process images received from unaffected eyes. Major signs of CVI include:
- Roving eye movements
- Cerebral malfunction
- Delayed visual response (latency)
- Unusual visual behaviors
- Better vision with moving versus stationary objects and near versus distant objects
- Difficulty with complex visual objects, groupings or environments, among others.
- Complete absence of response to visual stimulation
- Visual field (blind spots)
There is no cure for CVI. Pediatric ophthalmologist and PCPs screen infants with underlying neurologic disease for CVI, among other ocular conditions that can cause long-term visual impairment. Underlying early intervention, vision rehabilitation services, and education on support services can help families working to optimize vision in an affected child.
For a child showing signs of visual field impairment, parents are encouraged to have him/her assessed for CVI by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Call UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 to schedule your child for an appointment with a UNC pediatric ophthalmologist today. To learn more about CVI, visit the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) and the AAO’s “Diagnosis & Care of Children with CVI” overview of this childhood condition.