Child Disability Payment decision making guide

Severe visual disability

The new Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI form) for adults in Scotland was introduced in April 2018. This replaced the previous registration system (Blind and Partial Sight Register) for people with a visual disability. Since then children under the age of 16 years in Scotland are no longer registered and will not receive a CVI. This is because the needs of children with visual impairment are different from adults.

When a child under the age of 16 is recognised as having a visual impairment, they are notified to the visual impairment network for children and young people (VINCYP) and, with the consent of their parent or carer, are also referred to various services to ensure they are getting the required help and support.

VINCYP is a national managed clinical network for children and young people. It promotes equality of services and improving care for children and young people with a visual impairment across Scotland.

An individual has a severe visual impairment if a registered medical practitioner has diagnosed them as having a 'severe visual impairment' defined by the Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP) (CDP regs, reg. 13(2)(c)) (CDP regs, reg.13(5)).

Children who have a severe visual disability may have a letter from any of the healthcare professionals involved in their care. For example, the child's Ophthalmologist, Orthoptist, Optometrist or Visual Impairment Paediatrician. The letter should state that they have "a severe visual impairment fulfilling the definition from the visual impairment network for children and young people (VINCYP)." The VINCYP network publishes guidance for healthcare staff on its website.

Diagnosis of a condition causing a severe visual disability will usually be made by a consultant ophthalmologist or paediatrician.

There may be circumstances that an individual is unable to provide the above letter, such as:

  • they have yet to receive the letter
  • they are waiting for appointments or test results
  • they may have misplaced or lost the letter

This list is not exhaustive.

If an individual is unable to provide the letter the case manager should still consider whether the individual meets the severe visual disability criteria based on the information provided by the individual, as well as any other forms of supporting information.

The case manager should consider requesting a clinical case discussion with a practitioner if they are in any doubt about if an individual meets the severe visual disability criteria.

It is helpful to understand the criteria used for establishing a severe visual disability in adults. However, the needs of each child will vary. A number of professionals involved in the child's care will consider them. Generally, a child will have a severe visual disability in the same circumstances as an adult, if their visual acuity comes within any one of the following:

  • less than 3 / 60 with a full visual field
  • between 3 / 60 and 6 / 60 with a severe reduction of field of vision, such as tunnel vision
  • 6 / 60 or above but with a very reduced field of vision, especially if a lot of sight is missing in the lower part of the field

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