Ophthalmologist warns of importance of early childhood low vision diagnosis

During the 70th Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology in Salvador, ophthalmologist Maria de Fátima Neri emphasized the critical importance of early diagnosis for low vision in children. She noted that visual impairment in childhood can significantly impact a child's global development, including motor, cognitive, communicative, and social skills.

Neri explained that low vision is more than a simple decrease in visual acuity; it can compromise environmental exploration, autonomy, and learning. Early intervention is vital to help children utilize residual vision to develop functional strategies for the future.

Key causes of childhood low vision include congenital cataracts, glaucoma, albinism, hereditary retinal dystrophies, high myopia, and retinopathies caused by infections such as syphilis, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus. Other factors include prematurity, neurological diseases, and cortical visual impairment.