ABSTRACT
This chapter firstly defines visual impairment (as well as blindness and low vision) and outlines some developmental implications. It looks at prevalence. Causal factors are examined in relation to various factors: genetic, those arising in foetal development, those emerging during the birth process, and factors occurring in childhood. Types of visual impairment are described: refractive errors such as short sightedness, and other types of visual impairment such as cataract. I then consider the identification and assessment of visual impairment with regard to evaluations of vision, for example, a distance vision test, and educational assessments.
