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Visual Impairments
Legal Definition
According to the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995; a visual impairment is defined as the following:
- Blindness -- This includes
- visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 in the better eye with corrective lenses
- limited field of vision subtending an angle of 20 degrees or worse
- Low Vision -- This includes the visual capacity to execute a task with appropriate devices.
Signs of Possible Eye Trouble in Children
Behavior
- rubs eyes excessively
- shuts or covers one eye, tilts head, or thrusts head forward
- has difficulty in reading, holds work close to eyes
- blinks more than usual or becomes irritable when doing close work
- unable to see clearly at a distance
- squinting or frowning
Appearance
- crossed eyes
- red-rimmed, encrusted, or swollen eyelids
- inflamed or watery eyes
- recurring styes
- nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eye)
Complaints
- eye itch, burn or feel scratchy
- cannot see well
- dizziness, headaches, or nausea following close eye work
- blurred or double vision
Source: Disability Awareness A guidebook for families and educators, 2nd Edition, PACER CENTER.
Causes of Partial Sight or Blindness
Amblyopia
This dimness of vision without any apparent disease of the eye is usually the result of strabismus, which is not using an eye because of a muscle problem.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens that reduces the amount of light the retina receives. They generally do not affect the field of vision but result in haziness, especially in glaring light. Cataracts can be surgically removed and corrective lenses or contact lenses can be worn. The chance of perfect vision depends on other abnormalities also associated with the cataracts. In children, cataracts are often congenital.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve due to increased pressure from within the eye. Damage to the optic nerve can result in severe loss in sight or tunnel vision. If left untreated, glaucoma will lead to total blindness. Glaucoma is usually detected by pressure checks during routine eye exams and can be treated.
Diabetic Retinopathy
This disorder involving defective metabolism of glucose and other substances may result in degenerating eyesight. Print may appear distorted or blurred. Many diabetics also develop cataracts, resulting in hazy or distorted vision. This is a leading cause of blindness for people of ages 20 to 64.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
This is caused by administering high levels of oxygen to premature babies. When the premature baby is removed from the oxygen-rich environment, the change in oxygen levels can result in a mass of scar tissue being formed in the back of the lens. ROP affects both eyes and can lead to total blindness.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
This is the most common genetic disease of the eye and causes gradual degeneration of the pigmented layer of the retina. First symptoms usually include difficulty seeing at night, followed by loss of peripheral vision.
Retinal detachment
With this eye condition, a hole in the retina allows fluid to leak behind the retina and push it off the back of the eye. This could lead to vision loss, but surgery can correct the problem.
Sources: Disability Awareness A guidebook for families and educators, 2nd Edition, PACER Center.
Exceptional Children An introduction to special education, 7th edition, Heward, W. L., Merril Prentice Hall.
Learning Aids
Braille
Braille was developed by Louis Braille. It is the primary means of literacy for people with visual impairments. Braille is a tactile system of reading and writing. It is composed of raised dots arranged in various combinations representing single letters, phonetic sounds or entire words. Braille is not a language but a code system. The code can be written either with a Brailler, which is similar to a typewriter, or with a slate and stylus.
Braille Technological Aids
Braille 'n' Speak is a battery-powered, pocket-sized device used for note taking It has a keyboard for Braille entry and voice output. Its features include translation of Braille into synthesized speech or pint.
Twin Vision books
These are books with both Braille and print words and pictures in print and raised form. Individuals can read them to children with or without visual impairments.
Auditory Materials
This includes materials such as audiobooks or books on tape, talking calculators, talking watches or clocks, talking books (which can be adjusted to play at a rate faster than normal speech) and optical character scanners (a device that scans printed material and reads the scanned material back to you).
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