Objective: To discuss the nature of low vision and effective strategies for optimizing it

• Low vision not only varies among children but also varies from time to time in the same child; although it may fluctuate in relation to such external factors as sunlight glare or darkness, the general tendency, which should be given due attention, is for low vision to deteriorate over time.
• The implications for someone who is blind is clear, but the implications for someone who has low vision varies considerably from person to person and due to changes in the environment. Children with low vision frequently misunderstand themselves and are often wrongly accused of being manipulative because their vision varies under different conditions.
• Residual vision should be used to its utmost, unless an eye health specialist indicates otherwise.
• A child with low vision may position herself unusually in order to see an object properly.
• A child with low vision from birth will regard this as her “normal” and will often assume that other children see in the same way. The child may over-estimate how well she can cope or manage with her vision in a given situation.
• As a result of the visual impairment, the child may struggle to see a large object all at once and only see parts at a time. Details may be missed or obscured.
• The inability to read body language in general (arms crossed) and facial language in particular (smiles, frowns, etc.) impacts communication and understanding of peers.
• The use of magnification is of limited use in social situations but may be useful in formal learning.
• Too much light may present as many problems as too little light, particularly when the light is uniformly distributed (such as neon lighting which has the effect of eliminating the third dimension).