Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is caused by damage to the visual pathways between the eyes and brain, resulting in 10 common characteristics. These include preferring a single color like red or yellow, needing movement to see objects, delayed visual attention, gazing at lights, difficulty with complex visual scenes, focusing on limited areas, needing objects close by, lacking reflexes like blinking, only attending to familiar things, and separate looking and reaching without visual guidance.

1. Ten Characteristics of Cortical
Visual Impairment
By
Kristy Josuweit
TVI

2. Cortical Visual Impairment
• Definition: Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is
a breakdown in communication between the
eyes and the brain.
• Children & adults with CVI present with most
or all of the following ten characteristics
(Roman, 2007).
Roman-Lantzy, C. (2007). Cortical visual impairment: an approach to assessment and
intervention. New York, NY: AFB Press.

3. Color & Movement
• Color:
• Has a preferred color: Typically red or yellow
• Only that preferred color is seen
• Movement:
• Object must move to be seen

4. Latency & Light Gazing
• Latency:
• When object is presented, visual attention is
delayed
• Light Gazing:
• Child looks at light for extended period of time

5. Visual Complexity and Field
Preferences
• Three types of Visual Complexity:
• surface of object: too many colors on one
object
• viewing array: too many objects in one space
• Sensory environment: background noise is
distracting
• Field Preferences:
• Child holds visual gaze in limited visual fields

6. Distance Viewing & Visual Reflexes
• Distance Viewing:
• Child sees best with objects close to face
• Visual Reflexes: Child does not blink to touch
and or to visual threat

7. Visual Novelty & Visual Motor
• Visual Novelty:
• Child only visually attends to familiar objects
• Visual Motor:
• Look and reach are separate events
• No visually guided reach