Cortical Visual Impairment is a neurological condition caused by damage to the parts of the brain responsible for processing visual information. Unlike other types of vision loss, the eyes themselves may be healthy — the problem is in the brain's ability to interpret what the eyes see.
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Support in East Orlando
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Visual Health & Learning Center
The most common cause is reduced oxygen to the brain around the time of birth, but CVI may also develop after brain injury, brain infections, seizures, bleeding in or around the brain, hydrocephalus, metabolic disorders, genetic brain conditions, or premature birth.
Signs may include: looking away while reaching for an object, responding better to moving objects than still ones, using side vision instead of looking directly at something, holding objects very close to the face, staring at lights, light sensitivity, difficulty recognizing familiar people, or not responding to visual information as expected.
Yes. Many children with CVI also have other developmental or neurological diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, or learning disabilities. Every child is unique, and the presence of another diagnosis doesn't determine how CVI affects vision.
In addition to evaluating eye health, our eye doctors assess functional vision, eye movements, eye teaming, visual attention, visual behaviors, and visual efficiency. We also take time to learn how your child functions at home, school, and during therapy.
Many children with CVI experience improvements in visual function as they grow and learn to use their vision more effectively. Early identification allows families, therapists, educators, and healthcare providers to begin making changes that support development during the years when children learn and grow most rapidly.
Our eye doctors frequently work alongside pediatricians, neurologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, teachers of the visually impaired, early intervention specialists, and school teams. Working together allows everyone involved in your child's care to better support their visual development, learning, and independence.
Please bring any glasses your child currently wears, completed patient forms, and any previous eye care records, reports from therapists, or school evaluations that may be helpful. The more we understand about your child's daily functioning, the better we can tailor our evaluation.
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes visual information. The eyes themselves may be healthy, but the parts of the brain responsible for understanding what the eyes see are not working as efficiently as they should.
CVI is now recognized as the leading cause of childhood vision loss. It most often affects babies and young children, but visual difficulties related to brain injury can also occur later in life.
At Visual Health & Learning Center, our eye doctors evaluate how your child's visual system functions during everyday activities. We'll help you understand how CVI may be affecting vision and recommend strategies that support learning, development, and daily life.
Every Child With CVI Experiences Vision Differently
No two children with Cortical Visual Impairment see the world the same way.
Some children notice movement more easily than stationary objects. Others have difficulty recognizing familiar faces, locating objects, or understanding what they're looking at. Vision may also change from one day to the next depending on fatigue, lighting, attention, and overall health.
Because your child has never experienced vision any other way, they may not realize anything is different. Instead, you may notice behaviors that suggest they're having difficulty using vision during everyday activities.
CVI Can Affect More Than Just Eyesight
CVI affects the brain's ability to process visual information. These challenges can affect learning, mobility, communication, play, and everyday independence.
Recognizing Faces, Places, or Objects
Children with CVI may have difficulty recognizing familiar faces, places, or objects even though they see them often. This happens because the brain has trouble interpreting and remembering visual information.
Locating Items in a Busy Environment
Busy environments can make it difficult for children with CVI to find what they're looking for. When many objects, colors, or patterns compete for attention, the brain may struggle to locate a specific item.
Looking Directly at an Object
Some children with CVI use their side vision instead of looking directly at an object. Although this may seem unusual, it is often the way their brain processes visual information most effectively.
Reaching for Toys or Other Objects
Children with CVI may have difficulty reaching accurately because the brain has trouble judging where objects are in space. They may reach past an object, miss it completely, or look away while reaching.
Small Behaviors Can Be Important Clues
Many children with CVI cannot tell you they're having trouble seeing.
Instead, you may notice that your child:
- Looks away while reaching for an object
- Responds better to moving objects than still ones
- Uses side vision instead of looking directly at something
- Holds objects very close to their face
- Stares at lights
- Is sensitive to bright light
- Has difficulty recognizing familiar people
- Doesn't respond to visual information as expected
- Has trouble following objects with their eyes
These behaviors don't necessarily confirm a diagnosis of CVI, but they should be discussed with your child's healthcare provider.
CVI Begins in the Brain, Not the Eyes
Cortical visual impairment occurs when the parts of the brain responsible for processing visual information have been damaged. This may involve the occipital lobe, which processes visual information. It may involve the parietal lobe, which helps us judge where objects are and how they move. It may involve the temporal lobe, which helps us recognize faces, objects, and other visual details.
The most common cause of CVI is low oxygen to the brain around birth.
CVI can also result from a brain injury. Other causes include infections, seizures, or bleeding in or around the brain. It may also be linked to hydrocephalus or metabolic disorders. Some genetic brain conditions can play a role. Complications from premature birth can also increase the risk.
Children With CVI Often Have Other Neurological Conditions
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and coordination. It results from damage to the developing brain, often before or during birth, the same types of brain injury that can cause CVI. Many children with cerebral palsy also experience visual processing difficulties because the brain areas responsible for movement and vision are closely connected.
Developmental delays occur when a child does not reach typical milestones in areas such as motor skills, speech, language, or social development at the expected pace. Because CVI affects how the brain interprets visual information, it can contribute to delays in skills that rely on vision, such as learning, exploration, and communication. Supporting vision is often an important part of a broader developmental plan.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts, and processes sensory information. Some visual behaviors associated with CVI, such as side-glancing, difficulty with visual complexity, or sensitivity to light, can overlap with behaviors seen in ASD, which is why a thorough functional vision evaluation is important. Understanding whether visual processing difficulties are contributing to a child's challenges can help guide more effective support.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures and the medications used to manage them can both affect visual processing and attention. Children with epilepsy and CVI may experience fluctuations in visual function that make consistent daily participation more challenging. Close coordination with a neurologist is often an important part of managing these overlapping conditions.
Learning disabilities are neurologically based differences that affect how the brain processes information, which can make tasks like reading, writing, or math more difficult. CVI can contribute to or compound learning challenges by making it harder for a child to visually access materials, navigate a busy classroom environment, or sustain visual attention. Identifying CVI alongside a learning disability allows educators and therapists to make more targeted accommodations.
Sleep disorders are common in children with neurological conditions and can significantly impact daytime visual function. Because CVI can cause visual fatigue, the brain works harder to interpret visual information, and poor sleep can make visual difficulties noticeably worse. Children who are tired may show reduced visual attention, increased light sensitivity, and greater difficulty processing complex environments. Addressing sleep as part of an overall care plan can help support more consistent visual performance.
Early Support Can Make a Meaningful Difference
Many children with CVI experience improvements in visual function as they grow and learn to use their vision more effectively.
Early identification allows families, therapists, educators, and healthcare providers to begin making changes that support development during the years when children learn and grow most rapidly.
As your child develops, their visual needs may also change. Regular follow-up evaluations help ensure recommendations continue to support their success at home, at school, and in everyday life.