Cerebral visual impairment (CVI), also referred to as cortical or brain-based visual impairment, occurs when damage to the brain’s visual pathways or networks affects visual processing. It can result from premature birth, genetic disorders, brain malformations, or trauma. Importantly, children with CVI grow into adults with CVI, requiring lifelong tailored interventions and services. The need for practical information on this condition is so critical it was the focus of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) Special Issue on Evidence-Based Interventions for CVI.
CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in developed nations, yet research described in the article entitled "Cerebral Visual Impairment Education: Training and Current Practice Patterns of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists," by Melissa L. Rice, Karen Harpster, Jillian Bulman, Veeral Shah, and Terry L. Schwartz, reveals a lack of comprehensive training for optometrists and ophthalmologists. Their findings highlight a pressing need for improved education during training and continuing education programs.
As Guest Editors Amanda Hall Lueck, San Francisco State University; and Corinna Bauer, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, noted in the editorial introducing the special issue, “This finding [of just 1 to 2 hours of training in CVI by Rice et al.] also underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between educators, clinicians, individuals with CVI and their families to bolster the assessment and intervention plans for those with CVI.”
Good news: If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, JVIB has a special gift for you. This holiday season, JVIB is providing 30-day complimentary access to the article "Cerebral Visual Impairment Education: Training and Current Practice Patterns of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists," featured in JVIB’s 2024 Special Issue on Evidence-Based Interventions for CVI.
Read the article: Cerebral Visual Impairment Education: Training and Current Practice Patterns of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists, and explore the table of contents.
