Visual impairment (VI) now affects one child in every five below the age of five in the UK and has increased almost four-fold in the last decade*.
Since a further 10 per cent of children are currently awaiting diagnosis, it seems surprising that health professionals, educationalists and the media give the disorder scant attention.
Typically associated with older adults, VI is generally thought to be a natural part of the ageing process. However, innovations in neonatal care and the increased use of invasive techniques such as in vitro fertilisation are believed to be having a profound impact on sensory development. As a result, increasing numbers of children with mild, moderate and severe VI are entering pre-school settings.
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