Vision loss is the lack of a child to be able to see clearly once he or she grows up. An infant is a young child, newborn baby, who is not able to express what he or she is feeling at a given particular time. There have been several reported cases in regards to child eye issues immediately they stop responding to any movement in the environment or if they behave differently from the rest of the children. Vision loss in infants has great effects to a given child, and the eye specialists have effectively addressed the issues.
There are narrow chances or opportunities to treat a visually impaired or a child who has lost his or her site since the parents and also the practitioners believes that the children are too young to be operated on or to be given any medical care. For example, a condition such as single binocular vision develops or can affect a child within six months of his or her life (Willings, 2016). If the defect is not easily and quickly noticed then it would be hard to be treated when the child grows up. In this essay, I will be discussing on the effects of vision loss on the infants. I will also discuss any solutions or actions that may be taken to prevent such acts from occurring again.
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Vision loss or visual impairment is a term that can be used interchangeably to describe the vision problem in a child. Brain damage can lead to vision loss in a young child and sometimes any effects that are in the eye can result in loss of sight of that particular child. It is therefore not clear what might cause the vision loss in a child if there are no eye examinations done. In any child vision and sight clues are vital about how they process information in their surroundings (Chen, 1999). When a child, therefore, faces a vision loss, they are faced with a hard time to learn and also live a normal life. Living a healthy life if the problem is not solved at early stages can only be attained by offering the infants visual aids to use when grown up.
Vision loss also limits the levels at which a child can understand things. If the cause of the vision loss is not known and treated, it affects the child’s development regarding sight and after that leads to limiting a child on the experiences that he or she needs to be exposed to in life (Hockenberry, Wilson, & Askin, 2013). The information access to a child is always limited, and the experiences through a vision that they should learn are not obtained. The child will, therefore, judge things differently; coordination and the general growth of the child will be stagnant.
An infant who is suffering from vision loss is faced with challenges of developing the cognitive, physical and emotional ability. All these three are essential for a child to portray how normal he or she will have to be or behave in society. Cognitive abilities are associated with the level of thinking. Sight is closely related with our brains and therefore any negative effects that face a brain is a clear sign of reduced mental thinking, and thus the child will be slow and different methods will be used to teach and advise him or her. It is, therefore, good for parents to first measure and predicts whether the child is suffering from any vision loss. When a child can explore and discover the environment that they exist in, cognitive development is enhanced(Chen, 1999). When a child is vision impaired, it, therefore, means that they cannot be able to move as quicker as normal children. Motor development is therefore also vital to aid in concept development.
According to Chen, (1999), vision loss reduces and limits the level at which a child interacts and associates with people. The rate at which a child interacts with the environment helps him or her to quickly develop language wise. Lack of vision always offers a child no opportunity of inquisitiveness and thus dormancy of the child will make language learning and development slow. There are also cognitive impacts regarding being independent and the less a child observes the environment, the less their independence is since they mostly rely on someone to hold their hands and also offer any support that they need. Caregivers are always at the center of offering the children support, and when they hurriedly show or do activities, the child is affected since they are helpless and they learn less from such activities (DeLisa, Gans, & Walsh, 2005).
Vision is more helpful to develop the emotion l part of the child. Infants with a vision loss condition are highly affected when it comes to emotions development. Touching, seeing and feeling are some of the components that make the emotions of the child to be active and assist them in their day to day lives. When the vision of a child is affected, therefore, it leads to a slow impulse of the senses of emotions to the brain. Emotional growth will, therefore, be affected, and the child will mostly portray signs of stunted growth. Seeing a given action by a close person always proves a given sense of belonging or trust among a given individual. It is with these ideas that a child can learn and acquire the skills that will assist him or her succeed in life. When these skills, therefore, lack in individuals, they are not able to make such judgment, and they leave another individual to make a decision on their behalf (Chen, 1999).
Vision loss leads to low self-esteem and limits the levels of competition of an infant. Normal children who can see properly do engage in various activities which the blind cannot participate in at various institutions. Visually impaired child, therefore, cannot enjoy the competition that other children do enjoy. The level of activity is also affected since they are not able to easily move around as they grow up (Pillitteri, 2010).
Prevention of Vision Loss
It is not an easy task to prevent all cases of vision loss, but vision loss can be managed in some instances by using various methods and practices. There have been discovered new therapies that can benefit children so that they can lead a good life. Early treatments of diseases such as the retinopathy of prematurity, and sometimes conducting surgeries on infants cam plays a great role in preventing the effects of vision loss in infants. Parents are however advised to take their infants for regular check-ups so that any abnormality can be detected earlier and a solution is found for the child. Family trends and genes can also be a determinant factor when it comes to vision loss. Children who are suspected to fall within those spheres should always have a special visual screening and eye exams so that the conditions can be detected earlier to prevent further occurrence of the abnormality (Willings, 2016).
Infants are sensitive to any high levels of brightness; it is, therefore, advisable that they are not exposed to such high-frequency lights which end up affecting their cornea and thus affects the rest of the eye of the child. Parents and caregivers should take care of their children in a conducive environment that will not allow any chances of a child developing the condition. Care should also be given to the infant regarding cleanliness. Most parents are fond of assuming that infants or young children should not be washed their eyes. Eyes are part of the body and through which waste products are released. Any waste product through an eye should, therefore, be cleaned, and parents should ensure that they have taken care of their child to avoid such infections leading to vision loss. The American Public Health Association (APHA) has over time insisted on the importance of taking care of the child’s eyes and taking the infants for regular checkups. The Association recommends that such screenings and evaluations should take care between 6 months, two years and four years but it is not a must that the exact stages be followed. Once a given eye disorder is discovered in an infant earlier the better it can be treated and avoid vision loss in a child (Chen, 1999).
In conclusion, vision loss is the inability of a child to see as required. Making contacts with the environment is vital in ensuring that a child’s overall development is achieved. Most children who suffer from vision loss are faced with various challenges, and they are not able to effectively perform at their peak levels. Vision loss leads to issues such as slow emotional development in the child, lack of cognitive development and above all stagnation in involving in the various activities that other children enjoy doing. Parents can be a good source to help in avoiding or rather reducing vision loss. High level of hygiene should be observed when taking care of the eyes of a child at all times. Prevention of vision loss can be achieved if regular eye examination is done regularly. Children are delicate, and any little lack of care may result in unwanted eye conditions
References
Chen, D. (1999). Essential Elements in Early Intervention: Visual Impairment and Multiple Disabilities. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
DeLisa, J., Gans, B. M., & Walsh, N. (2005). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice, Volume 1. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Hockenberry, M., Wilson, D., & Askin, D. (2013). Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children Multimedia Enhanced Version. London: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Pillitteri, A. (2010). Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing & Childrearing Family. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Willings, C. (n.d.). The Impact Of Vision Loss on Development & Learning . Retrieved December 4, 2016, from Teaching Visuaky impaired Site: http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/impact-on-development--learning.html
