Review
Impairment of vision in children due to damage to the brain: a practical approach
Authors:
Elisabeth McKillop ,
Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YN, GB
About Elisabeth
MRCOphth MBChB BSc (MedSci)
Gordon N. Dutton
Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow; Department of Vision sciences, Glasgow; Caledonian University, Glasgow; The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, GB
Abstract
Aim: To describe the visual problems which children with brain damage may experience and to describe approaches to these, applicable to everyday life.
Methods: A literature-based essay is presented using relevant articles and practical experience.
Results: Damage to the brain can affect both visual input and visual processing. Degradation of visual input results in reduced visual acuity, reduced contrast sensitivity and restricted visual fields. The dorsal stream passes between the occipital cortex and the posterior parietal lobes, which serve the ability to extract visual data from a complex scene, visual attention and the visual guidance of movement. The ventral stream passes between the occipital lobes and the temporal lobes and is responsible for recognition of what is being looked at and orientation. Any of these visual functions can be impaired to any degree and in any combination. Structured history-taking and clinical examination is required to fully characterise the visual problems in each affected child in order to devise a tailored management strategy matched to the child’s needs.
Conclusion: Structured history-taking and clinical examination in children with visual impairment secondary to brain damage can allow management to be customised to the individual requirements of that child.
How to Cite:
McKillop, E. and Dutton, G.N., 2008. Impairment of vision in children due to damage to the brain: a practical approach. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 5, pp.8–14. DOI: http://doi.org/10.22599/bioj.222
Published on
01 Jan 2008.
Peer Reviewed
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