Blind and Visual Impaired (BVI)

Blind and Vision Impairment

Vision is the most dominant of our senses and plays a critical role in every stage of our lives. Vision is taken for granted, but without vision, your child will struggle to learn, to walk, to read, to participate in school and to work.

Vision impaired occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and how it functions.

Distance vision is measured and expressed as a fraction giving the size of print on a seen at distance, with corrected vision, using both eyes. Other assessments can also be used:

• 6/6 - your child sees at 6 metres what is normal to see at that distance (normal vision)
• 6/12 - your child sees at 6 metres what is normal to see at 12 metres (vision required for driving)
• 6/18 - your child sees at 6 metres what is normal to see at 18 metres (impaired vision)

Knowing if your child is Vision Impaired

You might be worried about your child’s vision, especially if they:

• hold books close to their face
• have difficulties finding friends in class/playground
• do not respond to visual signals
• lack confidence in crowded/busy situations
• have difficulties reading text or finding details in pictures
• struggle to see what is on the white board or a wall display
• bump into objects/people
• have poor handwriting or are not able to write on the line

If you are worried, these are some of the things you should do:

• take your child for an eye test
• make sure your child’s school is given any available reports on their eyesight
• make sure their glasses are clean and they wear them
• babies and young children with medically diagnosed vision impairment can be referred to the service by medical professionals using the NHS referral form [WORD 567KB].

Support from professionals

Babies and young children with medically diagnosed vision impairment can be referred to the service by medical professionals using the NHS referral form [WORD 567KB].

With your permission, the Early Support Development Journal for Children with a Visual Impairment may be used.

Information from the family, health visitors, nursery staff, and play activities are likely to inform the vision assessment and the team will support the family in the home.

Useful links

Royal National Institute of Blind People
Sight Advice South Lakes
Vision Support Barrow and District

Downloads

South Cumbrian Vision Services for Children and Young People [WORD, 117KB]