Q1. Differentiate between blindness and low vision by giving definitions. Describe two causes each of visual impairment during the prenatal, peri natal and post natal period.
- Part 1) Differentiate between blindness and low vision by giving definitions. (320 words)
- Part 2) Describe two causes each of visual impairment during the prenatal, peri natal and post natal period. (480 words)
- Blindness: Visual acuity ≤ 20/200 or field ≤ 20 degrees, minimal functional vision.
- Low Vision: Visual acuity 20/70-20/200; significant impairment, but uses residual vision with aids.
- Prenatal causes: Genetic conditions (e.g., Retinitis Pigmentosa) and maternal infections (e.g., Rubella Syndrome).
- Perinatal causes: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in premature infants and birth trauma/hypoxia.
Answer: Visual impairment encompasses a range of conditions affecting vision, broadly categorized into blindness and low vision. These categories are defined based on objective measures like visual acuity and visual field, as well as functional implications for daily life. The causes of visual impairment are diverse and can originate at various stages of development: before birth (prenatal), during birth (perinatal), or after birth (postnatal), each with distinct etiological factors. Part 1 of this ans...