The first step to appropriate treatment is accurate diagnosis. If you suspect that your baby has visual problems, first see your doctor who will refer him to an eye specialist for thorough eye tests. Most causes of visual impairment cannot be cured, the exception being surgical repair of a cataract. However, much can be done to meet your child’s specific needs.
Make sure that you provide a safe environment for a child who is blind or cannot see well, by checking around your home for things which could cause accidents. As the child gets older, it is important to provide a suitable educational setting for him. This may involve a special school for the visually impaired. Parents should always be involved in helping to develop an appropriate program, which makes maximum use of other senses, such as hearing and touch, for learning. Some children who are visually impaired are able to read large print books; others need to learn braille, or learn from audio tapes and ‘talking books’.
A child who is blind or visually impaired needs to become as independent as possible. At a later stage the use of a special cane or a seeing-eye dog may afford him maximum independence.
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