I think my child might have a vision impairment. How do I know what my child can see?
Your child's Ophthalmologist (a hospital doctor or consultant specialising in eye conditions) will find out how much your child can see. However, it often takes time to work out the exact nature of a child's condition.
Sight continues to develop after birth and research suggests that vision must be stimulated to reach its potential. Seeing also requires perceptual skills to make sense of images sent from the eye to the brain. This means it's often months, sometimes years, before you will know the extent of what your child can see.
Total blindness is rare. Most children can see something, although it may not be much. But whatever sight your child has will be useful. For example, children who can only see light and dark may be able to tell where a window is and find their way around a room.
Further information about other services and how to get help for your child can be found on RNIB's First steps - understanding your childs sight, Guide Dogs children and young people's services webpages.
Further information on how to spot a possible eye condition see How can I tell if my child might have an eye condition?
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