The visually impaired child

With advanced perinatal health care in the United States and resultant survival of infants with eye and brain damage, evaluation of a child in the pediatrician's office who presents with apparent low vision has become more commonplace. This article discusses the causes of infantile and childhood blindness in the United States based on patient presentation, and defines the clinician's role in patient care. A cursory review of community support groups, schools, and other resources is included, followed by a discussion of the causes of blindness throughout the world and how the loss of vision impairs the independence of the whole person.