What is hemianopia?
Hemianopia means the loss of vision in half of the visual field in one or both eyes. The fault lies in the pathway between the eye and the brain and may be caused by a variety of medical conditions which damage the optic nerves.
Hemianopia is described as left or right, depending on which side of the vision is lost. A child or young person with hemianopia will often turn their head to the one side to maximise their field of vision. This should not be discouraged.
Symptoms may include:
- loss of sight to one side, which may not be recognised by the affected person
- loss of visual awareness
- inability to read, especially if the loss is to the right side
- bumping into furniture and so on, to one side only
How hemianopia affects vision
Residual vision is often unaffected, although not always.
Children and young people can usually:
- read normal sized print
- distinguish detail for both near and distance
Reading
The field of vision is the main area to be affected. When reading, a left hemianopia is restrictive because our script reads from left to right.
A person with left hemianopia may miss out a line of text while reading because at the end of the line the eyes have to move back onto the restricted field to begin the next line.
A right hemianopia may slow a reader’s speed and cause inaccuracies because they cannot see all the script and scan backwards and forwards.
Education strategies that can help
- Child or young person should have their own reading materials and worksheets rather than shared copies.
- CYP may hold their book at a particular angle in order to bring the page into their field of vision.
- CYP may turn their head to one side to maximise vision.
- Seating positions: CYP with a left hemianopia is best seated to the left of the room when facing front, and with a right hemianopia, best seated to the right.
- Be aware of field of vision for group or paired work.
- Give additional time to study objects and displays around the room.
- Consider field of vision especially in PE, science and technology or if the CYP is in an unfamiliar or busy place.
- Staff to be aware of safety issues relating to reduced visual fields during practical lessons.
- UK education collection | RNIB Bookshare, accessible books for print disabled learners.
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