Vision Impairment

Table of Contents

Vision impairment is a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses. It ranges from low vision to blindness.

Pronounced vi·zhuhn uhm·peuh·muhnt

What is vision impairment?

Low vision is when an athlete can’t see all the things they should be able to see for their age. They might have low-to-no vision, blurred vision, loss of side vision or change in colour vision.

Blindness is when an athlete can’t see at 6m what a person with typical vision can see at 60m or they have a small (less than 20deg) field of vision.

Causes of vision impairment

Babies might have vision impairment at birth. It can also happen later because of disease, injury or a medical condition.

Safety

There are important considerations to the environment and in offering a guide for the athlete to participate fully in all events.

Benefits of athletics

Health

Research shows children with vision impairment can have decreased fitness due to fewer opportunities for regular exercise.

Athletes with vision impairment may have had fewer opportunities or less interest in games and sports which develop balance and coordination due to the risk or difficulty.

Terms to use and terms to avoid  

Terms to use	Terms to avoid
Person with vision impairment	Blind as a bat
Person with low vision	Person without sight
Xena is blind	The blind

Sources

Vision Australia - https://www.visionaustralia.org/

World Health Organisation - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

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