Brain visual impairment in childhood: mini review

N Kozeis1

  • 1Pediatric Eye Department, Eye Department, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Hippokratia
|February 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in children presents diverse visual, oculomotor, and perceptual issues due to brain damage. Early diagnosis and intervention can improve visual function and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a primary cause of severe visual impairment in childhood.
  • Increased survival rates of premature infants have led to a higher incidence of CVI.
  • CVI encompasses a spectrum of visual, oculomotor, and visuo-perceptual disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on cerebral visual impairment in children.
  • To describe the range of visual disturbances and discuss prognosis in CVI.
  • To highlight the impact of brain damage on visual function.

Main Methods:

  • International literature search was conducted.
  • Analysis of visual, oculomotor, and visuo-perceptual disturbances.
  • Discussion of prognostic factors and outcomes in CVI.

Main Results:

  • CVI manifests with varied visual, oculomotor, and perceptual deficits.
  • Severity of CVI correlates with the timing, location, and extent of brain damage.
  • Visual function can improve, particularly in cases of cortical damage, due to brain plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in children with CVI.
  • Understanding pathophysiological mechanisms of CVI is key to enhancing quality of life.
  • Continued research is needed to optimize management strategies for CVI.

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