Common Visual Impairments

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 13, 2025
A visual impairment is a loss of vision that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses. This may result from a wide range of eye conditions, brain-based disorders, or trauma that affects the eye or visual pathways. Visual impairments vary widely in cause, severity, and impact—and no two individuals are affected in exactly the same way.

Each student with a visual impairment is unique. Even when students share the same diagnosis or visual acuity, their functional vision can differ significantly. Factors such as intellectual ability, rate of development, social competence, and access to educational opportunities all influence how a student uses their vision and adapts to visual challenges.

Eye care professionals use a variety of diagnostic tools and procedures to assess eye health, structure, and function. As part of this evaluation, they consider both medical findings and the student’s history to determine the type and extent of the impairment. It’s important to note that eye reports can change over time—a diagnosis may be revised, removed, or clarified as a child grows or as more information becomes available.

For this reason, keeping copies of past eye reports is essential. Reviewing a student’s history helps build a more complete understanding of their vision, informs educational planning, and supports continuity in recommended therapies and accommodations.
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Understanding specific eye conditions can help educators and caregivers plan appropriate accommodations and support for students with visual impairments. Below is a list of visual conditions, along with their characteristics and educational considerations. 

Visual Diagnosis

Amblyopia

​​(am-blee-OH-pee-uh)
Also known as “lazy eye,” amblyopia is a functional vision loss in one or both eyes without detectable damage to the eye’s anatomy. It often occurs when the brain suppresses input from one eye (often due to strabismus or a refractive imbalance) to avoid double vision.
  • Educational Impacts: May affect depth perception. Students may benefit from orientation and mobility support to anticipate distances or navigate stairs.
  • Treatment: May include patching the stronger eye, surgery, or corrective lenses.
  • Social Considerations: Wearing a patch or thick lenses can impact self-esteem.

Aniridia

(an-uh-RID-ee-uh)
​A congenital condition marked by incomplete formation of the iris. It may be associated with glaucoma, nystagmus, light sensitivity (photophobia), and low vision.
  • Educational Impacts: Students may require reduced lighting and may experience visual fatigue.
  • Accommodations: Tinted lenses can reduce glare; control illumination and glare in the learning environment.

Anophthalmia

(a·naaf·thal·mee·uh)
The absence of one or both eyeballs. A prosthetic eye may be worn for cosmetic purposes.
  • Educational Impacts: Students may need assistance with prosthetic care.
  • School Support: Adults may need to help with cleaning and managing the prosthesis during the day.

Aphakia

(uh·faa·kee·uh)
The absence of the lens of the eye, usually due to cataract surgery.
  • Educational Impacts: Requires strong convex lenses (plus lenses) that can distort image size and field of vision.
  • Accommodations: Support with magnification and positioning of reading materials.

Achromatopsia

(ay-kroh-muh-TAHP-see-uh)
A rare congenital disorder involving partial or total absence of color vision due to cone cell malformation. Often accompanied by light sensitivity and vision loss.
  • Accommodations: Tinted lenses, hats, high contrast materials, and cane skills for outdoor navigation may be needed.
  • Learning Strategies: Teach alternative color identification techniques.

Albinism

(AL-bin-izm)
A congenital condition characterized by lack of pigment in the eyes, skin, and hair. It is commonly associated with photophobia, nystagmus, and reduced acuity.
  • Educational Impacts: Students are sensitive to glare; vision may fluctuate with lighting.
  • Accommodations: Tinted lenses, seating to reduce glare, hats with visors, and high-contrast materials are helpful.
  • Social Considerations: Students may be self-conscious and resist accommodations.

Astigmatism

(uh-STIG-muh-tiz-um)
A refractive error where the cornea is shaped more like a spoon than a sphere, causing blurred vision at all distances.
  • Accommodations: Corrected with toric lenses or refractive surgery; may require seating close to the board or large print.

Blepharitis

(bleh·fr·ai·tuhs)
Inflammation of the eyelids, often with crusting, irritation, and blurred vision.
  • Educational Significance: Not typically vision-threatening, but may affect comfort and visual focus.
  • Accommodations: Regular eyelid hygiene, avoiding irritants.

Cataract

(KAT-uh-rakt)
Clouding of the eye’s lens, which obstructs light from reaching the retina.
  • Educational Impacts: Glare can reduce vision significantly. 
  • Accommodations: Avoid glare; limit physical activities if risk of retinal detachment exists.

Coloboma

(kah-luh-BOH-muh)
A congenital cleft or gap in one or more structures of the eye (e.g., iris, retina, optic nerve).
  • Educational Impacts: Varies based on severity and location.
  • Accommodations: Adjust lighting and materials according to functional vision.

Color Blindness

The inability to distinguish between certain colors, most commonly red and green.
  • Educational Strategies: Use labels, patterns, or positions (e.g., traffic light order) rather than color alone.

Glaucoma

(glaw-KOH-muh)
Increased pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve and leads to peripheral vision loss.
  • Accommodations: High illumination with glare control. Peripheral vision loss may limit mobility and make large print counterproductive.

Hemianopsia

(heh·mee·uh·naap·see·uh)
Loss of half the visual field in one or both eyes, typically due to brain injury or pressure from a tumor.
  • Educational Impacts: May need orientation strategies and modifications to reading and mobility tasks.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

(hi-pur-OH-pee-uh)
A refractive error where distant objects are seen more clearly than close ones, due to an underpowered eye.
  • Accommodations: Corrective lenses; may need magnifiers or reading supports.

Keratoconus

(keh·ruh·tow·kow·nuhs)
A progressive thinning and cone-like steepening of the cornea that distorts vision.
  • Educational Significance: May cause irregular astigmatism and significant visual distortion.
  • Accommodations: Frequent prescription changes, rigid contact lenses or corneal transplant in advanced cases, enlarged print and high contrast materials

Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis

(am-uh-ROH-sis)
A rare inherited condition that usually results in severe visual impairment or blindness from birth.
  • Educational Considerations: Students may need full vision support services, including Braille and orientation & mobility instruction.

Macular Degeneration

(ma·kyuh·lr duh·jeh·nr·ay·shn)
Degeneration of the macula, affecting central vision, color discrimination, and sharpness.
  • Types: Juvenile (e.g., Stargardt’s) or age-related.
  • Accommodations: High contrast materials, reduced glare, and seating adjustments may help.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

(mi-OH-pee-uh)
A refractive error where close objects are seen clearly but distance vision is blurred.
  • Educational Impacts: Students may hold reading materials close, which is fine and not harmful.
  • Restrictions: High myopia may require limiting contact sports due to retinal detachment risk.

Nystagmus

(ni-STAG-mus)
Involuntary, rhythmic eye movements that interfere with steady focus.
  • Educational Impacts: May cause low acuity. Some students may adopt a “null point” (head position) to reduce movement.

Optic Nerve Atrophy (ONA)

(aap·tuhk nurv a·truh·fee)
Damage or dysfunction of the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and pale optic disc.
  • Accommodations: Depend on location and severity of vision loss; may require magnification or alternative formats.

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)

(hi-poh-PLAY-zhuh)
A congenital underdevelopment of the optic nerve.
  • Educational Considerations: May include other neurological or hormonal conditions. Requires individualized assessment.

Presbyopia

(pres·bee·ow·pee·uh)
Age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus on near objects.
  • Note: Not typically seen in school-age children but may compound other visual impairments in older adults.

Ptosis

(TOH-sis)
Drooping of the upper eyelid, which may partially or completely block vision.
  • Educational Significance: Can limit the visual field, especially superiorly.
  • Accommodations: May require surgery, seating adjustments, and a possible need for visual field adaptation.

Retinal Detachment

(reh·tuh·nuhl duh·tach·muhnt)
Separation of the retina from the underlying tissue, often caused by trauma or high myopia.
  • Restrictions: Avoid sports or activities that risk head injury. Requires immediate medical attention.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

(reh·tuh·nai·tuhs pig·muhn·tow·suh)
A hereditary condition that leads to progressive peripheral vision loss and night blindness.
  • Educational Impacts: Students may benefit from high illumination and orientation & mobility training as vision narrows.

Retinoblastoma

(ret-in-noh-blas-TOH-muh)
A malignant intraocular tumor seen in young children. Life-threatening if untreated.
  • Educational Considerations: Students may have one eye removed and wear a prosthesis. Ongoing medical monitoring is essential.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

(ret-in-AHP-uh-thee)
A condition caused by abnormal blood vessel development in the retina of premature infants, often following oxygen therapy.
  • Educational Impacts: Can lead to various complications including blindness, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.
  • Support: Services and accommodations depend on severity.

Stargardt Disease

(staar·gaart duh·zeez)
An inherited juvenile form of macular degeneration causes progressive loss of central vision.
  • Educational Significance: Central vision loss can affect reading, facial recognition, and detail tasks.
  • Accommodations: May need magnification, audio formats, or braille depending on severity

Strabismus

(struh-BIZ-mus)
Misalignment of the eyes due to muscle imbalance. Can result in tropias (constant deviations) or phorias (intermittent).
  • Types:
    • Esotropia: Eye turns inward.
    • Exotropia: Eye turns outward.
    • Hypertropia: Eye turns upward.
    • Hypotropia: Eye turns downward.
  • Educational Impacts: May result in suppression of one eye, affecting binocular vision and depth perception.

Uveitis

​(yoo·vee·ai·tuhs)
Inflammation of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, and choroid), which can cause eye pain, light sensitivity, and vision loss.
  • Educational Significance: Can be recurrent and associated with autoimmune conditions.
  • Accommodations: Monitor for flare-ups. May need time out of school or modifications due to medication side effects or light sensitivity

Other Causes of Visual Impairments

Infections
​An infection is a pathologic condition.  Invasion of disease-producing microorganisms, resulting in localized cell injury, toxin secretion, or antigen-antibody reaction. Several infections may affect the visual system.  There are several infections that may be contracted in utero or during birth.  They are often known by the acronym TORCH, for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes.
Trauma
​Trauma may be incurred by amniocentesis (rarely) or by forceps delivery.  Globe perforation can occur from amniocentesis, leading to corneal scarring, possible cataract, retinal detachment, and retinal or vitreous hemorrhage. Maternal drug abuse is another cause of trauma.

Resources

Virginia Bishop put together this handbook on Selected Anomalies and Diseases of the Eye in 1986. I continue to use this resource as it has great information about a wide range of visual impairments including possible classroom implications and recommendations.
History of Visual Impairments
Professional Practice
Vision Professionals
Professionalism
Teacher Resources
Professional Publications
VI Book Resources
Family Resources
VI Referrals
Medical vision exams
visual diagnosis
fvlma
other evaluations