Two in every 1,000 (0.2%) children and young people up to the age of 25 in the UK have vision impairment of any degree. Six in every 10,000 children have severe visual impairment.
What Is a Visual Impairment?
A visual impairment means a child has a problem with their eyesight that cannot be fully corrected with glasses.
This can include:
Some children are born with a visual impairment, while others develop one later because of illness, injury, or a medical condition.
Many children with visual impairments grow, learn, and thrive with the right support at home, in childcare, and at school.
Some babies don’t show obvious eye changes, so it helps to watch for:
If you think your baby might have difficulty seeing, take your child to their GP for advice.
Some babies don’t show obvious eye changes, so it helps to watch for:
If you think your baby might have difficulty seeing, take your child to their GP for advice.
Children may show visual challenges as they grow. Signs might include:
If you think your child might have difficulty seeing, take your child to their GP for advice.
Children may show visual challenges as they grow. Signs might include:
If you think your child might have difficulty seeing, take your child to their GP for advice.
Vision is important for learning about the world, especially in early childhood. When vision is affected, children may have challenges with:
Communication & Social Interaction
Speech & Language
Movement & Physical Skills
Vision is important for learning about the world, especially in early childhood. When vision is affected, children may have challenges with:
Communication & Social Interaction
Speech & Language
Movement & Physical Skills
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have an excellent range of resources for parents including a play guide to support development and with suggestions for toys as well as information on choosing a nursery or school and accessing financial or emotional support.
More information
RNIB also offer many services which may be useful as your child grows up, such as the
newsagent supplying newspapers and magazines in an accessible format, and the talking books service.
The Sight Advice FAQ website aims to provide a single point of information for people seeking information about support for partially sighted and blind people.
Victa Parent Portal, supports families of children who are visually impaired.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have an excellent range of resources for parents including a play guide to support development and with suggestions for toys as well as information on choosing a nursery or school and accessing financial or emotional support.
More information
RNIB also offer many services which may be useful as your child grows up, such as the
newsagent supplying newspapers and magazines in an accessible format, and the talking books service.
The Sight Advice FAQ website aims to provide a single point of information for people seeking information about support for partially sighted and blind people.
Victa Parent Portal, supports families of children who are visually impaired.
Regular eye tests are important for children with and without a visual impairment and can help identify any changes in vision or eye health.
Children under 16, and young people under 19 who are in full-time education, are eligible for NHS-funded sight tests. An eye test can also provide advice about any glasses, aids or support that may help your child make the most of their vision.
If you have concerns about your child's eyesight, speak to your GP, health visitor, school nurse, ophthalmologist, or local optician for advice.
Regular eye tests are important for children with and without a visual impairment and can help identify any changes in vision or eye health.
Children under 16, and young people under 19 who are in full-time education, are eligible for NHS-funded sight tests. An eye test can also provide advice about any glasses, aids or support that may help your child make the most of their vision.
If you have concerns about your child's eyesight, speak to your GP, health visitor, school nurse, ophthalmologist, or local optician for advice.
OpenSight is a local charity that provides a lifetime of support to vision impaired people of all ages, their families and professionals across Hampshire. OpenSight helps children and young people through activities, support, friendships and opportunities from birth through all ages.
Contact OpenSight on 02380 641 244 or email info@opensight.org.uk
OpenSight is a local charity that provides a lifetime of support to vision impaired people of all ages, their families and professionals across Hampshire. OpenSight helps children and young people through activities, support, friendships and opportunities from birth through all ages.
Contact OpenSight on 02380 641 244 or email info@opensight.org.uk
The Vision Impairment Team support children and young people from birth up to the age of 25 if they are still in full time education. Their Qualified Habilitation Specialists support children up to the age of 18 years.
The Vision Impairment Team support children and young people from birth up to the age of 25 if they are still in full time education. Their Qualified Habilitation Specialists support children up to the age of 18 years.
There is a wide range of aids and equipment that can make everyday activities and tasks easier.
There are also many apps to help people with sight loss or blindness which you can download to a your smartphone or tablet. For example:
There is a wide range of aids and equipment that can make everyday activities and tasks easier.
There are also many apps to help people with sight loss or blindness which you can download to a your smartphone or tablet. For example:
We aim for all our libraries to be welcoming, inclusive spaces for all to enjoy.
Our staff receive regular disability awareness and equality training.
If you are unable to read standard print, please ask your library about concession membership.
We hold large numbers of fiction and non-fiction titles in Large Print format. You can search for these in our catalogue of Large Type books. We also offer free access to audiobooks and our digital library for with no reservation charge or overdue fee for concession members.
Visit our Hampshire Libraries branch pages to find opening times and more information on accessibility in branches.
For those who find it difficult to visit a library, find out about the Home Library Service.
We aim for all our libraries to be welcoming, inclusive spaces for all to enjoy.
Our staff receive regular disability awareness and equality training.
If you are unable to read standard print, please ask your library about concession membership.
We hold large numbers of fiction and non-fiction titles in Large Print format. You can search for these in our catalogue of Large Type books. We also offer free access to audiobooks and our digital library for with no reservation charge or overdue fee for concession members.
Visit our Hampshire Libraries branch pages to find opening times and more information on accessibility in branches.
For those who find it difficult to visit a library, find out about the Home Library Service.
Guide Dogs provides a wide range of services and support for children and young people with a vision impairment and their families. Support is not limited to people who use guide dogs. Families can access advice, information, peer support, educational support, and activities designed to help children develop confidence, independence and mobility skills.
Guide Dogs also offers resources and support for parents and carers, helping families understand and navigate the challenges that can come with a visual impairment.
Guide Dogs provides a wide range of services and support for children and young people with a vision impairment and their families. Support is not limited to people who use guide dogs. Families can access advice, information, peer support, educational support, and activities designed to help children develop confidence, independence and mobility skills.
Guide Dogs also offers resources and support for parents and carers, helping families understand and navigate the challenges that can come with a visual impairment.
If you are aged 18 or over, or supporting a young person who is moving into adulthood, information about sight loss for adults is available on Connect to Support Hampshire.