Educating BVI Students
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Medical Reports

Eye topography machine that makes a topographical map of the eye.

Parents should have the following medical reports in hand before the Evaluation Planning Meeting:

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  • Ophthalmologist Report

    • Summary of the student’s eye condition, health of the eye, and future prognosis.

  • Low Vision Evaluation 

    • Recommendation of optical devices (spectacles, monocular, CCTV, telescopic lenses)

These reports should provide the following information:

 

  1. Explanation of the eye condition

  2. Distance Visual acuity (Right eye, Left eye, together)

  3. Near Distance Visual acuity (Right eye, Left eye, together)

  4. Visual field in each eye (corrected, uncorrected)

  5. Future prognosis

  6. Any pertinent accommodations for the school team to consider

  7. Relevant evaluations the school should conduct, such as assistive technology, reading media, or orientation and mobility

Eye topography machine that makes a topographical map of the eye.

Diagram of a visual field test. On the left, there is a black and white image of an eye with a green cross symbol in the middle. On the right, there is a circle divided into four quadrants with markings showing the eyes visual field. The bottom of the image has text that reads 2.5 mm and a chart that tracks gaze errors, responses, and not detected.

Diagram of a visual field test

At times eye doctors ask to see their patients first thing in the morning when to obtain optimal results. Yet, doctors need to consider and report what the student’s vision might be at the end of the day when they need to complete homework and may be experiencing eye fatigue. A doctor’s report to the IEP team should address educational concerns and use plain language.

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Evaluations help IEP teams determine if a student is eligible for special education or related services. Students with disabilities need to be evaluated in all areas of suspected disability. The USDOE Policy Guidance of 2000 explains that evaluations for students with blindness and visual impairment should be comprehensive and address several factors. This section will focus on evaluations specifically for vision.

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