Background: Reports in the literature concerning the evaluation and low vision management of visually impaired children are limited, resulting in a lack of information about the characteristics and needs of this population.
Methods: A review was performed of 762 children evaluated over a 14-year period in a low vision clinic program coordinated by the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.
Results: The age, sex, ocular condition, best corrected visual acuity, habitual near point working distance, and optical devices recommended for use by these children were analyzed.
Conclusions: Ongoing, comprehensive multidisciplinary low vision services are necessary to help children with visual impairments meet their educational, vocational and avocational needs. With ongoing low vision care unnecessary costs-such as those for large print material-can be avoided, therefore creating a significant savings to local or state educational services.