Diagnosis of low vision in children: feelings and comprehension of mothers

Purpose: To identify mothers' feeling and reactions when facing the diagnosis of low vision and their comprehension of this diagnosis. Methods: This study features a qualitative research. Eleven low vision children's mothers attended at the Visual Stimulation Service of Ophtalmology Sector of Unicamp Hospital were interviewed. Semi-strutured interviews were used to collect data. The main issues of the interview were: feelings when faced with the diagnosis and comprehension of this low vision diagnosis. Results: The results revealed mothers' fear of blindness and a low comprehension of the meaning of low vision, and their interpretation of medical diagnosis according to their subjectivity. Conclusions: The way the diagnosis is transmitted to the families is extremely important. Parents cultural, economical and emocional background may often impair the diagnosis comprehension.