I think my child might have 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 vision impairment, particularly in babies and younger children. 

A child’s vision pathways, from the eye to the optic nerve, to the brain, continue to develop between birth and 7 years old. Research suggests that a child’s vision must be stimulated to reach its potential, and an Orthoptist may support if issues are identified in this area. Seeing requires perceptual skills to make sense of images sent from the eye to the brain and all children develop these skills as they grow. This means can be months and 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 a 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 use that light find their way around a room. 

Often, parents will get an idea of what their child can and can’t see by doing activities with them and noticing if and when an object or person comes into a child’s field of vision. For some conditions, this may change over time even after the child reaches 7 years old. As a child matures, they will also be more able to communicate their vision levels and needs to those around them. 

Information about the different eye conditions can be found on our Eye conditions webpages. Tips from parents about what to ask at an eye clinic appointment can be found on our Eye clinic appointments: a guide for parents webpage.  

Further information on how to spot a possible eye condition see How can I tell if my child might have an eye condition? 

RNIB Specialist Advice Service Advisors can give further information on this topic