# Something is off: signs it could be CVI > If your child has vision problems that an eye exam cannot explain, or that glasses do not fix, ask the doctor whether it could be CVI. CVI is a brain-based visual impairment, so the eyes can look healthy. It is worth asking most of all if your child was born early or has had a brain injury. Updated 2026-10-03. Canonical: https://cviexplained.com/signs/ ## You are not imagining it Many parents of children with CVI were first told "her eyes are fine". Both things can be true. The eyes can be healthy, and the child can still have real trouble seeing, because seeing happens in the brain. ## Signs to write down The National Eye Institute says children with CVI may have trouble: - responding to the things they see - seeing parts of what is in front of them, like busy moving scenes - recognizing faces and objects - recognizing things in cluttered spaces - reaching for something while they are looking at it - understanding what they are looking at Parents may also notice that the child: - reacts slowly to things they see - prefers to look at things that are moving - looks with one part of their vision, such as from the side - stares at lights, or is bothered by light You may also see everyday versions of these: tripping on curbs and steps, walking past you in a crowd, not finding a toy on a patterned rug, or seeing something one day and not the next. ## What to do this week 1. **Keep a list.** Write down what you see, where, and at what time of day. Short notes are enough. 2. **Take a video.** Thirty seconds of your child searching for something says more than a description. 3. **Ask the question out loud.** "Could this be CVI, cerebral visual impairment?" Not every doctor knows CVI well, so name it. 4. **Ask for the right referral.** An eye doctor familiar with CVI, and possibly a pediatric neurologist or neuro-ophthalmologist. 5. **Do not wait to change the space.** Clearing clutter and giving extra time help whether or not there is a diagnosis yet. ## Who is more likely to have CVI The National Eye Institute says CVI is caused by an injury to the brain, most often before, during or shortly after birth, and that babies born early are more likely to have it. Children with CVI often have other conditions too, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy or developmental disabilities. A child with none of these can still have CVI. ## Questions people ask ### The eye doctor said my child's eyes are fine. Can it still be CVI? Yes. CVI starts in the brain, so an eye exam can be normal. The National Eye Institute says that when an exam does not find eye problems that explain the symptoms, the problem might be with the brain, and the child should see an eye doctor who is familiar with CVI. ### Which doctor diagnoses CVI? Start with your pediatrician and ask for an eye doctor who is familiar with CVI. The National Eye Institute says a child may also need a pediatric neurologist or a neuro-ophthalmologist. There is no single test for CVI. ### Could it be autism or ADHD instead? CVI can be mistaken for other conditions. Perkins School for the Blind lists ADHD, autism, delayed visual maturation and learning disabilities as common misdiagnoses. A child can also have CVI together with one of these. Only a clinician can sort that out, so describe exactly what you see. ### How common is it for CVI to be missed? Very common. Perkins School for the Blind estimates that fewer than 20 percent of likely cases in the United States are diagnosed. That figure is an estimate from insurance data, not a census. ## Sources - [National Eye Institute, Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)](https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cerebral-visual-impairment-cvi) - [Perkins School for the Blind, What is CVI?](https://www.perkins.org/what-is-cvi/) - [Perkins School for the Blind, CVI by the numbers](https://www.perkins.org/our-work/cvi/by-the-numbers/) --- CVI Explained gives general information. It is not medical or legal advice and it does not diagnose.