CORTICAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN CHILDREN

Cortical visual impairment (CVI) in children is most commonly caused b y peri- or postnatal hypoxia-ischemia, but may also occur following ot her insults, e.g., trauma, epilepsy, infections, drugs, or poisons, an d certain neurologic diseases. The disorder differs considerably in et iology, physical findings, and, perhaps, prognosis, from the cortical blindness seen in adults. The same event that causes CVI by damaging t he geniculate and/or extrageniculate visual pathways may also damage o ther areas of the brain, or the retina, optic nerves, or chiasm. Thus, children with CVI often have other neurological problems. Diagnosis m ay require the participation of a multidisciplinary team and the use o f special visual testing techniques. Due to the uncertainty concerning the prognosis in CVI, clinicans should remain optimistic about the ch ild's potential for some vision recovery.