Understanding vision loss in your child

Learning that your child has low vision can bring up a lot of questions about what it means for their future. The good news is that vision loss looks different for every child, and many children with low vision learn to play, grow and thrive with the right support.

Many people often assume that being blind or having low vision means living in total darkness; however, the reality is that vision loss comes in many shapes and sizes, and most children with vision loss have some degree of remaining sight.

Therefore, with early intervention, a supportive environment and the right assistive tools and technology, children can build skills, confidence and independence as they grow.

Vision is a spectrum

No two children experience their eye condition in exactly the same way. As they age, your child’s vision will likely change. This is because low vision is not an absolute, but rather it exists on a spectrum.

In other words, vision is not just "can see" or "cannot see". A child may be able to see one thing and miss another. They may see a toy on a plain table but not see the same toy on a patterned rug. They may recognise a person close up but not across the playground. They may read print one day and struggle the next because they are tired.

As such, low vision is generally best understood by how a child functions day-to-day.

Mild to moderate low vision

For children with mild to moderate low vision, they can often read large print or use strong magnifying lenses. They generally navigate unfamiliar environments safely but may struggle with fine details, facial recognition at a distance, or low-contrast objects (like stairs).

Severe low vision

Children rely heavily on tactile and auditory senses to support their sight. They typically require specialised formats like braille or screen-reading software for education.

Profound low vision/legal blindness

Children primarily navigate using a white cane or dog guide, and learn through touch and sound. However, many children in this category are still able to decipher light, which allows them to distinguish between day and night, for example.

Spotting the signs of low vision

Sighted adults often ask children, "What can you see?”. This question can be surprisingly hard for a child to answer.

Children may not know what other people see. They may not realise they are missing information, or they may assume everyone sees the way they do.

As such, it’s important to be on the lookout for more subtle clues that your child may be experiencing vision loss. Instead of only asking "Can you see it?", it is often more useful to observe what your child actually does. For example:

• Do they move closer?
• Do they turn their head?
• Do they avoid looking directly?
• Do they use touch?
• Do they wait for someone else to act first?
• Do they lose items on patterned surfaces?
• Do they become slower in busy spaces?
• Do they find it easier when the background is plain?
• Do they cope better earlier in the day?

If you observe any of these scenarios, it’s important to head to your eye specialist. A trip to your GP or optometrist is a great place to start, and they can refer you to other relevant healthcare professionals.

Support and resources

Early intervention is so important to ensure a child with low vision meets their developmental and educational milestones.

Specialised organisations like Vision Australia provide comprehensive services tailored for children and youth. Through these organisations, children can learn how to maximise their remaining vision to ensure they develop in line with their peers.

For example, your child may need information presented in a different way. This could include:

• Larger print
• Bolder print
• Better contrast
• Good lighting
• Reduced glare
• Less clutter
• Magnification
• Braille
• Tactile materials
• Audio books
• Screen readers

Explicit teaching of skills other children may learn by watching.

The goal is not to make everything easy; the goal is to make learning, movement, communication and participation possible.