VISUAL IMPAIREMENTS

Visual impairment is a generic term that covers a range of difficulties with vision and includes: blindness, low
vision, partial sightedness, and other conditions that arise as a result of refractive errors. A student with visual
impairment is one whose visual acuity is not sufficient for him / her to participate with ease in everyday
activities. The impairment interferes with optimal learning and achievement and can result in a substantial
educational disadvantage, unless adaptations are made in the methods of presenting learning opportunities,
the nature of the materials used and/or the learning environment.

Causes of visual impairments

The causes of visual impairments may be classified according to the time of onset, that is

 Pre-natal causes

Several factors play a role in the development of visual impairments before a child is born. These pre-natal
factors include hereditary and congenital factors. Hereditary factors include all those conditions that are
inherited as a result gene transmission. Congenital conditions on the contrary include all the conditions that
are genetic, as a result of injury or disorders before or during birth.

 Hereditary causes – this is by far the most common cause of visual impairments such as blindness,
myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightnedness), nystagmus ( dancing eyes, linked mainly to
albinism), and colour blindness. Other hereditary conditions that may cause V.I include optic atrophy,
retinitis pigmantosa, macula degeneration.

 Diseases – visual impairments can be caused by various diseases such as rubella (German measles),
S.T.I’s such as syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV / AIDS when acquired during pregnancy.

 Misuse of drugs - such as quinine, aspirin and antibiotics; use of narcotics such as cigarettes and
alcohol especially during the first trimester of pregnancy,

 Rhesus factor – incompatibility of the mother’s and the child’s blood may lead to damage of the sensory
organs.

 Exposure to X-rays especially during the first three months of pregnancy may also cause visual
impairment
 Accidents - may lead to the injury of the unborn baby’s eyes or brain thereby causing visual impairment

 Peri-natal Causes

These comprise of factors like

 Prolonged labour during delivery, cord strangulation leading to anoxia (brain damage due to limited
supply of oxygen.

 trauma, injury caused by improper use of delivery instruments such as forceps,

 venereal diseases particularly syphilis and gonorrhea and

 poor hygiene during delivery

 Post-natal causes

After birth, factors that may lead to visual impairments include

 Poor nutrition in the child especially deficiency of vitamin A

 Accidents which may cause Injury to the brain or eyes (i.e., corneal scarring) and exposure to poisonous
agents and chemicals such as pesticides, gases, latex and pollen

 Childhood diseases such as measles, meningitis, trachoma and neo-natal jaundice. Eye diseases
such as glaucoma (increased eye pressure as a result of continuous accumulation of the aqueous and
vitreous fluids), cataracts, trachoma. It should also be noted that diabetes if not well managed may
result to diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of visual impairment know in adults

 Harmful traditional medicines and misuse of other drugs mentioned earlier

 Poor hygiene

 Old age – there is usually poor supply of blood to the eyes thereby causing macula degeneration.
Weakening of lens muscles as a result of old age may cause a refractive error condition known as
presbyopia.

Characteristics of visual impairments

The following are some of the characteristics if children with visual impairments

 They rely on the senses of hearing and touch as a result of inability / difficulties in seeing

 Difficulties to perceive objects that are far or near.

 They hold objects close to the eyes or move close to the objects

 Move their head instead of eyes when reading

 They frown, shut or cover one eye when reading

 They have foggy vision that may cause double vision - seeing one object as two

 They take longer than others to complete reading tasks / avoids reading

 Blink excessively and are sensitive to light (photo phobia) especially those with albinism who have
nystagmus (dancing eyes)

 Use objects or fingers to point at words when reading

 Have red watery eyes ( discharge in the eyes)

 Awareness of the eyes

 Have white patches in the centre of the eye

 Pain and discomfort due to foreign body sensation

 They rub their eyes constantly

 They tilt the head towards the source of sound

 They frequently complain about headaches and dizziness

 They have poor perception of colour (colour blindness)

 They are clumsy or awkward in games or sports that require eye-hand coordination.

 They roll their eyes, especially those who are totally blind

 They squint / have misaligned eyes

 They have poor body posture and gait, and usually stumble over objects or trip over things when walking.

Intervention measures

The assistance rendered to children with V.I is determined by the degree of disability. The following should
be instituted to help children with visual impairments progress in their education

 Encourage parents to seek medical attention when you notice signs of visual problems in learners. Let
those with refractive errors get advice and prescribed optical glasses from eye clinics.

 Use appropriate assistive devices during the teaching-learning process. These include tape recorder,
talking calculators, magnifiers, embossed materials etc.

 Encourage the use of teaching and learning materials which are adapted for the V.I such as embossed
materials such as charts and maps. Prepare instructions in Braille for blind learners.

 Use materials with large print or in Braille form

 Introduce a learner with blindness to Braille at an early age

 Use large print on the chalkboard

 Use concrete objects and substances which the learner can manipulate

 Allow the learners to learn by doing

 Integrate knowledge by exposing the children to different experiences and explain their relationship

 Encourage the learner to develop and use listening skills

 Allow learners with albinism and others who are photo phobic to wear tinted glasses to avoid glare and
hats to avoid direct sunlight.

 Introduce a learner with visual impairment to orientation and mobility training

 Use individualized instruction and sighted learners to help the V.I keep up with their school work.

 Modify the school infrastructure and the classroom environment to accommodate learners with visual
impairments.