About this site, and its sources

Why it exists

Parents of children with CVI say the same thing again and again. They become the only person in the room who understands it, and they explain it over and over to teachers, relatives and doctors. This site is the thing you hand to the next person.

How the information is checked

• Facts come from named sources, listed on each page. The main ones are the US National Eye Institute and Perkins School for the Blind.
• Where sources disagree, the site uses the more careful wording. For example, it says CVI is “a leading cause” of vision loss in children in the United States, not “the leading cause” worldwide.
• Each page shows the date it was last updated.

What the film and pictures are

No picture can show what a person with CVI sees. CVI is different for every person, and it is not blur. The film and pictures are approximations, built from how people with CVI describe their own vision. Maya, the girl in the film, is a composite. She is not a real child.

What this site is not

It is not medical advice, legal advice or a diagnosis. It is not run by a clinic or a school. For a diagnosis, see an eye doctor who is familiar with CVI.

Where to go deeper

• Perkins School for the Blind, CVI Now, the largest collection of CVI guides for families and educators.
• CVI Scotland, with material that also suits older children and adults with CVI.
• National Eye Institute, a short medical overview, also in Spanish.