Visually Impaired Infants Research Consortium (Viirc): First-Year Results

This article reports on a pilot study, conducted by the Visually Impaired Infants Research Consortium, of 21 developmental milestones achieved by 82 visually impaired children in New York City. Some delays in visual-motor activities were found, as well as differences in the sequence of acquiring skills. The subgroup of visually impaired children with multiple handicaps acquired milestones at a slower rate than did the subgroup of visually impaired children with no additional handicapping conditions.

Strabismus and Amblyopia

Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye which can cause a permanent visual problem if not corrected early in life. Amblyopia, lazy eye, occurs when one eye is weaker than the other and the child shows preference for the stronger eye. Several screening devices including external examination of the eye, ability to track, a cover test, acuity tests, and stereoscopic tests can detect strabismus and amblyopia at an early age. Treatment for strabismus and amblyopia include patching therapy, use of glasses, surgery, orthoptics, CAM vision stimulator, or a combination of these techniques.

An Overview of Preschool Vision Screening

Although several vision screening techniques are available for infants, including Optokinetic Nystagmus, Preferential Looking and Visual Evoked Potential, none is routinely utilized. Visual deficits are often first detected through required preschool vision screenings. These screenings vary in their comprehensiveness and administration. No standardization for testing or administration exists. Referrals for further examination appear to be higher for those children receiving a thorough battery, suggesting that some of the testing procedures used have inappropriately high rates of false negatives.

Vision Screening: A Study of 297 Head Start Children

Vision assessments were provided to 297 Head Start children in nine Westchester County, New York programs. An optometrist and an orthoptist administered a protocol which included retinoscopy, visual acuity, fly, cover, motility and convergence tests. Sixty-three children (21.2%) were referred for further evaluation. The visual deficits detected by this screening included decreased acuity, strabismus combined with decreased acuity, astigmatism, and nonspecific visual problems. The protocol used provided a thorough evaluation of the visual system and required only seven minutes per patient.

Active Exploration of the Environment by Young Children with Low Vision: A Review of the Literature

Young children with low vision experience delays in cognitive development, motor development, and social skills because of the lack of motivation or insufficient opportunities to explore their environments actively. As a result, they have difficulty acquiring practical knowledge and spatial and environmental concepts. This review of the literature explores these problems, discusses current approaches to addressing them, and suggests areas for future research, including the use of optical aids.