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A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
09:47

A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking

Published on: July 9, 2016

Cortical visual impairment in children

Jane C Edmond1, Rod Foroozan

  • 1Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. jedmond@bcm.tmc.edu

Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
|October 27, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Cortical visual impairment is a growing cause of childhood vision loss, often resulting from hypoxic ischemic brain injury. Understanding these injuries is key to addressing diverse visual disabilities in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Cortical visual impairment (CVI) is an increasing cause of vision loss in children.
  • Improved survival rates of premature infants contribute to the rise of CVI.
  • CVI encompasses a spectrum of visual deficits, from severe impairment to cognitive visual dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the causes and manifestations of cortical visual impairment in children.
  • To differentiate the effects of hypoxic ischemic injury in preterm versus term infants.
  • To highlight the range of visual disabilities associated with CVI.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on cortical visual impairment.
  • Analysis of injury patterns in preterm and term infants.
  • Examination of ocular and visual system abnormalities resulting from brain injury.

Main Results:

  • Hypoxic ischemic injury to brain watershed areas is the primary cause of CVI.
  • Preterm infants typically experience injury around ventricles; term infants show injury between major arteries.
  • Damage to peristriate cortex can lead to cognitive visual dysfunction, and anterior visual pathways may be affected.
  • Ocular and visual system abnormalities differ between preterm and term infants due to distinct injury patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical visual impairment is a significant cause of pediatric vision loss.
  • The etiology of CVI involves hypoxic ischemic brain injury with varied manifestations.
  • CVI presents a wide range of visual impairments, including cognitive visual dysfunction.
Abstract

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