[Care of visual impairment in children and adolescents]

Visual impairment refers to a loss of visual acuity or one or more functions of the eye and visual system. It is not necessarily a disability or a handicap for the individual. The majority of visually impaired children are multihandicapped. Diagnostic and treatment centers have been introduced in an attempt to resolve present difficulties in providing health care to the multihandicapped. Pseudoretardation can occur in blind children if adequate opportunities are not provided for learning. Early diagnosis of visual impairment is important for obvious medical reasons. Early referral of blind children and their families to agencies for help is crucial. Almost invariably, mothers are the first to suspect that something is wrong with their infants' eyes. An ophthalmological examination, rather than simple reassurance, is needed. How an ophthalmologist leads parents through the period after diagnosis and the following next few weeks will affect the child's life much more than is generally realized. There is a need for a multidisciplinary team approach to evaluation and treatment of blind children. Cerebral palsy and profound visual impairment are a bad combination. Visual impairment alone does not predispose to a specific learning disability. Partially sighted students can be helped in various ways to function in their class.