Congenital Blindness Research Articles

Endolymphatic Hydrop Phenotype in Familial Norrie Disease Caused by Large Fragment Deletion of NDP.

Norrie disease (ND; OMIM 310600), a rare X-linked recessive genetic disorder, is characterized by congenital blindness and occasionally, sensorineural hearing loss, and developmental delay. The congenital blindness of ND patients is almost untreatable; thus, hearing is particularly important for them. However, the mechanism of hearing loss of ND patients is unclear, and no good treatment is available except wearing hearing-aid. Therefore, revealing the mechanism of hearing loss in ND patients and exploring effective treatment methods are greatly important. In addition, as a serious monogenic genetic disease, convenient gene identification method is important for ND patients and their family members, as well as prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis to block intergenerational transmission of pathogenic genes. In this study, a Norrie family with two male patients was reported. This pedigree was ND caused by large fragment deletion of NDP (norrin cystine knot growth factor NDP) gene. In addition to typical severe ophthalmologic and audiologic defects, the patients showed new pathological features of endolymphatic hydrops (EH), and they also showed acoustic nerves abnormal as described in a very recent report. PCR methods were developed to analyze and diagnose the variation of the family members. This study expands the understanding of the clinical manifestation and pathogenesis of ND and provides a new idea for the treatment of patients in this family and a convenient method for the genetic screen for this ND family.

Ground reaction forces during stair ascending and descending in congenitally blind and sighted individuals

BackgroundStair ascending and descending are common in daily life activities which are challenging for blind individuals. Visual information plays an important role in controlling an individual's movements. However, the relationship between visual information and stair ascending and descending is poorly understood. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate how blindness alters the ground reaction force (GRF) components during ascending and descending the stairs. MethodsTen individuals with congenital blindness and 10 able-bodied sighted individuals were served as experimental (EG) and control groups (CG), respectively. The GRFs were recorded during stair ascending and descending tasks using a portable 40 × 40 cm Kistler force plate which was placed on a firm stair. CG repeated the ascending/descending tasks in both open and closed-eyes conditions. For within and between groups comparisons the repeated measure ANOVA and MANOVA tests were used, respectively. The significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all comparisons. ResultsIn ascending task, there was not any significant between group differences on GRF components. However, closing the eyes in CG resulted in a significant decrease in some GRF components in the stair descending (p < 0.05). The GRF components of the stair descending in CG with open and closed-eyes were significantly different from those in the blind group; however, the differences were less in closed-eyes. SignificanceThe GRF in the stair descent was similar in both blind and sighted individuals with closed-eyes condition, that it can increase the risk of falling in blind people. As a result, the provision of tools and equipment for the blind in descent conditions is essential.

Evaluation of growth, puberty, osteoporosis, and the response to long-term bisphosphonate therapy in four patients with osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.

Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG; MIM #259770) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disease, characterized by early-onset osteoporosis and congenital blindness, caused by loss-of-function mutations in the LRP5 gene. Beneficial effects of bisphosphonate treatment in patients with OPPG are well known, while follow-up data on growth and pubertal parameters are limited. This article provides clinical follow-up data and long-term bisphosphonate treatment results in four OPPG patients from three unrelated families, ranging between 2.5 and 7 years of age at presentation. Clinical diagnosis was molecularly confirmed in all patients, with four different germline biallelic LRP5 mutations including a novel nonsense variant c.3517C>T (p.(Gln1173*)) in two siblings with marked phenotypic variability. Anthropometric and pubertal data and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were evaluated retrospectively. Early puberty was observed in two patients. The bisphosphonate treatment duration of patients varied around 4-7 years and improvement in BMD z-scores with bisphosphonate treatment was demonstrated in all patients (z-score changes were +5.6, +4.0, +1.0, and +1.3). Although further research is needed to identify the possible association between early puberty and OPPG, all OPPG patients should be followed up with detailed endocrinological evaluation regarding pubertal status.

Transient Receptor Potential channels (TRP) in GtoPdb v.2022.1

Transient Receptor Potential channels (TRP) in GtoPdb v.2022.1

Clostridial enterocolitis in an emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Clinical History: A 25-year-old female emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) presented with a 1-week history of lethargy, hyporexia, and recumbency. The bird had lived its entire life at the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center in Texas and had an unremarkable medical history, apart from bilateral congenital blindness. Necropsy Findings: Within the coelomic cavity, the serosal surface of the intestines was coated with a moderate amount of tan to green, mucoid, opaque, foul-smelling fluid (fibrinoheterophilic coelomitis) (Fig. 1). The large intestine was diffusely dilated and filled with dark red fluid and strands of yellow, friable material (fibrin). The mucosa of the small intestine, and most severely the colon, was diffusely roughened, thickened, dull, and covered by a thick yellow to green, opaque, friable diphtheritic membrane (Fig. 2). The distal colon was diffusely, markedly distended and focally contained a 50x7x5 cm, semi-firm accumulation of feces coated by a 4-5 mm diameter layer of tan, friable material (fibrin) located 21 cm from the opening of the cloaca. Gross evaluation of the eyes revealed bilateral aphakia.

Synesthesia in a congenitally blind individual

Synesthesia represents an atypical merging of percepts, in which a given sensory experience (e.g., words, letters, music) triggers sensations in a different perceptual domain (e.g., color). According to recent estimates, the vast majority of the reported cases of synesthesia involve a visual experience. Purely non-visual synesthesia is extremely rare and to date there is no reported case of a congenitally blind synesthete. Moreover, it has been suggested that congenital blindness impairs the emergence of synesthesia-related phenomena such as multisensory integration and cross-modal correspondences between non-visual senses (e.g., sound-touch). Is visual experience necessary to develop synesthesia? Here we describe the case of a congenital blind man (CB) reporting a complex synesthetic experience, involving numbers, letters, months and days of the week. Each item is associated with a precise position in mental space and with a precise tactile texture. In one experiment we empirically verified the presence of number-texture and letter-texture synesthesia in CB, compared to non-synesthete controls, probing the consistency of item-texture associations across time and demonstrating that synesthesia can develop without vision. Our data fill an important void in the current knowledge on synesthesia and shed light on the mechanisms behind sensory crosstalk in the human mind.

Targeting ON-bipolar cells by AAV gene therapy stably reverses LRIT3-congenital stationary night blindness

SignificanceCanine models of inherited retinal diseases have helped advance adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies targeting specific cells in the outer retina for treating blinding diseases in patients. However, therapeutic targeting of diseases such as congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) that exhibit defects in ON-bipolar cells (ON-BCs) of the midretina remains underdeveloped. Using a leucine-rich repeat, immunoglobulin-like and transmembrane domain 3 (LRIT3) mutant canine model of CSNB exhibiting ON-BC dysfunction, we tested the ability of cell-specific AAV capsids and promotors to specifically target ON-BCs for gene delivery. Subretinal injection of one vector demonstrated safety and efficacy with robust and stable rescue of electroretinography signals and night vision up to 1 y, paving the way for clinical trials in patients.

Electronegative electroretinogram in the modern multimodal imaging era.

BackgroundThe electronegative electroretinogram (ERG) reflecting inner retinal dysfunction can assist as a diagnostic tool to determine the anatomical location in eye disease. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and aetiology of electronegative ERG in a tertiary ophthalmology centre and to develop a clinical algorithm to assist patient management.MethodsRetrospective review of ERGs performed at the Save Sight Institute from January 2011 to December 2020. ERGs were performed according to ISCEV standard. The b:a ratio was analysed in dark adapted (DA) 3.0 or 12.0 recordings. Patients with ratio of ≤1.0 were included.ResultsA total of 4421 patients had ERGs performed during study period, of which 139 patients (3.1%) had electronegative ERG. The electronegative ERG patients' median age at referral time was 37 (0.7–90.6) years. The causative aetiologies were photoreceptor dystrophy (48, 34.5%), Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) (33, 23.7%), retinal ischemia (18, 12.9%), retinoschisis (15, 10.8%), paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (PAIR) and nonPAIR (14, 10.1%), batten disease (4, 2.9%), and inflammatory retinopathy (4, 2.9%). There were three patients with an unclassified diagnosis. Thirty‐two patients (23%) had good vision and a normal fundus appearance. Eleven patients (7.9%) had good vision and normal results in all multimodal imaging.ConclusionsThe frequency of electronegative ERG in our referral centre was 3.1% with photoreceptor dystrophy as the main aetiology. A significant number of the cases had good vision with normal fundus or normal multimodal imaging. This further highlights the value of an ERG in this modern multimodal imaging era.

Deductive Reasoning and Working Memory Skills in Individuals with Blindness.

Deductive reasoning and working memory are integral parts of executive functioning and are important skills for blind people in everyday life. Despite the importance of these skills, the influence of visual experience on reasoning and working memory skills, as well as on the relationship between these, is unknown. In this study, fifteen participants with congenital blindness (CB), fifteen with late blindness (LB), fifteen sighted blindfolded controls (SbfC), and fifteen sighted participants performed two tasks of deductive reasoning and two of working memory. We found that while the CB and LB participants did not differ in their deductive reasoning abilities, the CB group performed worse than the sighted controls, and the LB group performed better than the SbfC group. Those with CB outperformed all the other groups in both of the working memory tests. Working memory is associated with deductive reasoning in all three visually impaired groups, but not in the sighted group. These findings suggest that deductive reasoning is not a uniform skill, and that it is associated with visual impairment onset, the level of reasoning difficulty, and the degree of working memory load.

A compound heterozygous mutation in the S-Antigen Visual Arrestin SAG gene in a Chinese patient with Oguchi type one: a case report

BackgroundOguchi disease is a rare autosomal recessive form of congenital quiescent night blindness. Oguchi disease has been found to be associated with gene mutations in SAG and GRK1, which are vital factors in the recovery phase of phototransduction after light stimuli. We report a case of Oguchi disease with novel heterozygous mutations in SAG.Case presentationA 7-year-old girl with a history of night blindness since childhood, was referred to our hospital. Ophthalmologic examinations included visual acuity, fundus examinations, fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, electroretinographic (ERG). Mutation screening of the SAG and GRK1 genes was performed. This patient exhibited typical clinical characteristics of Oguchi disease, including night blindness, golden fundus with the Mizuo–Nakamura phenomenon, packed structure of the parafovea in optical coherence tomography and reduced a-waves and b-waves in scotopic 3.0 ERG. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous change in nucleotide c.72_75+15delATCGGTGAGTGGTGCACAA in exon 2 of the SAG gene in this patient, her unaffected mother and younger brother. A splicing alteration of nucleotide c.376-2A>C was identified in exon 6 of the SAG gene with heterozygous status in this patient and her unaffected father.ConclusionsCompound heterozygosity of a nonsense p.S25X mutation in exon 2 and a splicing alteration in exon 6 of the SAG gene is the cause of this patient with Oguchi type 1 disease in China.

Restoration of Cone Sensitivity to Individuals with Congenital Photoreceptor Blindness within the Phase 1/2 Sepofarsen Trial.

PurposeTo understand consequences of reconstituting cone photoreceptor function in congenital binocular blindness resulting from mutations in the centrosomal protein 290 (CEP290) gene.DesignPhase 1b/2 open-label, multicenter, multiple-dose, dose-escalation trial.ParticipantsA homogeneous subgroup of 5 participants with light perception (LP) vision at the time of enrollment (age range, 15–41 years) selected for detailed analyses. Medical histories of 4 participants were consistent with congenital binocular blindness, whereas 1 participant showed evidence of spatial vision in early life that was later lost.InterventionParticipants received a single intravitreal injection of sepofarsen (160 or 320 μg) into the study eye.Main Outcome MeasuresFull-field stimulus testing (FST), visual acuity (VA), and transient pupillary light reflex (TPLR) were measured at baseline and for 3 months after the injection.ResultsAll 5 participants with LP vision demonstrated severely abnormal FST and TPLR findings. At baseline, FST threshold estimates were 0.81 and 1.0 log cd/m2 for control and study eyes, respectively. At 3 months, study eyes showed a large mean improvement of –1.75 log versus baseline (P < 0.001), whereas untreated control eyes were comparable with baseline. Blue minus red FST values were not different than 0 (P = 0.59), compatible with cone mediation of remnant vision. At baseline, TPLR response amplitude and latency estimates were 0.39 mm and 0.72 seconds, respectively, for control eyes, and 0.28 mm and 0.78 seconds, respectively, for study eyes. At 3 months, study eyes showed a mean improvement of 0.44 mm in amplitude and a mean acceleration of 0.29 seconds in latency versus baseline (P < 0.001), whereas control eyes showed no significant change versus baseline. Specialized tests performed in 1 participant confirmed and extended the standardized results from all 5 participants.ConclusionsBy subjective and objective evidence, intravitreal sepofarsen provides improvement of light sensitivity for individuals with LP vision. However, translation of increased light sensitivity to improved spatial vision may occur preferentially in those with a history of visual experience during early neurodevelopment. Interventions for congenital lack of spatial vision in CEP290-associated Leber congenital amaurosis may lead to better results if performed before visual cortex maturity.

Constituent Elements Affecting the Recognition of Tactile Graphics

Introduction: Many tactile graphics designed for individuals with visual impairments consider single factors. According to the results of our previous study, there may be interactions among scale, representation, and complexity factors. We conducted this integrative study with these three factors. Additionally, for the representation factor, we introduced a new level that mixed the two common levels (line drawing, (LD), and texture picture, (TP)), into a textured-line drawing, (TLD). Methods: We included 18 participants with congenital blindness. They were asked to identify and name tactile graphics. The design of tactile graphics involved three factors, each at different levels, including scale (large, medium, and small), representation (TP, LD, and TLD), and complexity (easy and complex). We recorded the identification time and accuracy and conducted three-way analysis of variance to investigate interactions. Results: The identification time for small-scale graphics was shorter than that for large-scale graphics. The accuracy for small-scale graphics was higher than medium-scale graphics. Under the TLD mode, the accuracy for small and medium-scale graphics was higher than that for large-scale graphics. For medium-scale graphics, TLD performed better than LD. Discussion: Because the sizes of small-scale graphics were similar to those of actual objects, they were easy to identify. If the TLD mode is used for medium-scale graphics, the components in the operation area can be completely presented, which is helpful for identification. However, if large-scale graphics are used under the TLD mode, the operation area is relatively small and difficult to identify. Implications for Practitioners: It is recommended to present objects at 1:1 under the small-scale. Under the medium-scale, the operation area can be presented by closed plains, while non-operation areas can be presented using lines. Under the large-scale, it is recommended to reduce the size of the graphics to an extent where both hands can be used to explore.

A novel missense creatine mutant of CaBP4, c.464G>A (p.G155D), associated with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE), reduces the expression of CaBP4.

BackgroundCaBP4 encodes Ca2+-binding protein 4, a neuronal Ca2+-binding protein that participates in many cellular processes by regulating the concentration of free Ca2+ ions. De novo CaBP4 variants have been identified as a cause of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB). However, we recently reported a 4-generation pedigree with 11 individuals diagnosed with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) that were validated with only one novel missense mutation, c.464G>A (p.G155D), in CaBP4. De novo CaBP4 variants have never been reported to be related with ADNFLE. This study aimed to identify whether c.464G>A (p.G155D) in CaBP4 reduced the expression of CaBP4.MethodsIn vitro experiments using recombinant protein expressed in human neuron cells were utilized in this study. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the effect of c.464G>A on CaBP4 mRNA expression. Western blot was performed to assess the effect of c.464G>A on CaBP4 protein expression.ResultsAccording to the RT-PCR and Western blot results, c.464G>A (p.G155D) was associated with an increased expression of CaBP4 mRNA and a reduced expression of CaBP4 protein.ConclusionsThese results reveal that c.464G>A (p.G155D) in CaBP4 reduced the expression of CaBP4 by reducing the stability of the CaBP4 protein. Mutations in the CaBP4 gene may be associated with ADNFLE.

Altered Spontaneous Brain Activity and Network Property in Patients With Congenital Monocular Blindness.

Individuals with congenital monocular blindness may have specific brain changes since the brain is prenatally deprived of half the normal visual input. To explore characteristic brain functional changes of congenital monocular blindness, we analyzed resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data of 16 patients with unilateral congenital microphthalmia and 16 healthy subjects with normal vision to compare intergroup differences of amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFFs), functional connectivity (FC), and network topolgoical properties. Compared with controls, patients with microphthalmia exhibited significantly lower ALFF values in the left inferior occipital and temporal gyri, superior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobe and post-central gyrus, whereas higher ALFF in the right middle and inferior temporal gyri, middle and superior frontal gyri, left superior frontal, and temporal gyri, such as angular gyrus. Meanwhile, FC between left medial superior frontal gyrus and angular gyrus, FC between left superior temporal gyrus and inferior parietal lobe and post-central gyrus decreased in the patients with congenital microphthalmia. In addition, a graph theory-analysis revealed increased regional network metrics (degree centrality and nodal efficiency) in the middle and inferior temporal gyri and middle and superior frontal gyri, while decreased values in the inferior occipital and temporal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, post-central gyrus, and angular gyrus. Taken together, patients with congenital microphthalmia had widespread abnormal activities within neural networks involving the vision and language and language-related regions played dominant roles in their brain networks. These findings may provide clues for functional reorganization of vision and language networks induced by the congenital monocular blindness.

Naturalistic Audio-Movies reveal common spatial organization across "visual" cortices of different blind individuals.

Occipital cortices of different sighted people contain analogous maps of visual information (e.g. foveal vs. peripheral). In congenital blindness, "visual" cortices respond to nonvisual stimuli. Do visual cortices of different blind people represent common informational maps? We leverage naturalistic stimuli and inter-subject pattern similarity analysis to address this question. Blindfolded sighted (n = 22) and congenitally blind (n = 22) participants listened to 6 sound clips (5-7min each): 3 auditory excerpts from movies; a naturalistic spoken narrative; and matched degraded auditory stimuli (Backwards Speech, scrambled sentences), during functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. We compared the spatial activity patterns evoked by each unique 10-s segment of the different auditory excerpts across blind and sighted people. Segments of meaningful naturalistic stimuli produced distinctive activity patterns in frontotemporal networks that were shared across blind and across sighted individuals. In the blind group only, segment-specific, cross-subject patterns emerged in visual cortex, but only for meaningful naturalistic stimuli and not Backwards Speech. Spatial patterns of activity within visual cortices are sensitive to time-varying information in meaningful naturalistic auditory stimuli in a broadly similar manner across blind individuals.

Analysis of LRP5 gene variants in a Chinese pedigree affected with Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome

To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with two individuals suffering from congenital blindness. Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of the pedigree were collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was validated through searching of PubMed and related databases, and analyzed with bioinformatics software. Both patients had congenital blindness and a history of multiple fractures. Other features have included microphthalmia and cornea opacity. One patient had normal intelligence, whilst the other had a language deficit. Both patients were found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the LRP5 gene, namely c.1007_1015delGTAAGGCAG (p.C336X), c.4400G>A (p.R1467Q) and c.4600C>T (p.R1534X). The first one was derived from their mother, whilst the latter two were derived from their father. None of the three variants was detected in their elder sister. The compound heterozygous variants of c.1007_1015delGTAAGGCAG (p.C336X) and c.4600C>T (p.R1534X) of the LRP5 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of the Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome in this pedigree. The clinical significance of the c.4400G>A (p.R1467Q) variant has remained uncertain. Above finding has enriched the mutational spectrum of Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.

Effect of the long-term lack of half visual inputs on the white matter microstructure in congenital monocular blindness

Individuals with congenital monocular blindness are born without binocular vision and stereopsis, the effects of which on the brain microstructure are largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the microstructural characteristics of white matter tracts over the whole brain in congenital monocular blindness. We used T1-weighted MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the microstructural characteristics of the brain in 16 patients with unilateral congenital microphthalmia (CM) and 16 matched normally sighted controls. The DTI-derived metrics were assessed using atlas-level analysis with FDR correction and TBSS-level analysis with threshold-free cluster enhancement correction (TFCE). CM exhibited significantly abnormal DTI-derived indices (p < 0.05, q < 0.05 of FDR correction) as follows: 1) declined fractional anisotropy (FA) in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus contralateral to the affected eye, bilateral inferior longitudinal fasciculus, while enhanced in the ipsilateral cingulum; 2) increased local diffusion homogeneity in the contralateral corticospinal tract while decreased in the ipsilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus; 3) reduced axial diffusivity (AD) in the body of corpus callosum. Meanwhile, the alteration tendencies of FA, AD, and radial diffusivity (RD) in the forceps major (increased FA and AD, decreased RD) and forceps minor (decreased FA and AD, increased RD) were interestingly opposite. These results reveal extensive microstructural abnormalities of WM ranging from sensory modalities to other cross-modal pathways involving language, execution, memory, emotion, fine movement, and interhemispheric communication as well. This study provides novel evidence of large-scale subcortical involvement subsequent to prolonged loss of half visual inputs, which may be associated with developmental delay and compensatory plasticity.

Eyes, the window on psychosis?

Much has been written on the theory that congenital blindness might protect against schizophrenia, but proof remains elusive. It has been suggested that visual ability might be associated with schizophrenia in a bell-shaped distribution, with both lifelong absent and perfect vision being protective. Alternatively, ocular aberrations and schizophrenia may share an aetiology. Any neuronal pathology implicated in schizophrenia could affect the retina, since it is an embryological extension of the brain. The retina is more amenable to direct imaging than other parts of the central nervous system and may give unique insights into schizophrenia-associated neuropathology. It is also possible that psychosis causes visual impairment: people with psychotic illnesses are probably not accessing optical care optimally and have higher levels of risk factors for visual loss.

The timing of auditory sensory deficits in Norrie disease has implications for therapeutic intervention.

Norrie disease is caused by mutation of the NDP gene, presenting as congenital blindness followed by later onset of hearing loss. Protecting patients from hearing loss is critical for maintaining their quality of life. This study aimed to understand the onset of pathology in cochlear structure and function. By investigating patients and juvenile Ndp-mutant mice, we elucidated the sequence of onset of physiological changes (in auditory brainstem responses, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, endocochlear potential, blood-labyrinth barrier integrity) and determined the cellular, histological, and ultrastructural events leading to hearing loss. We found that cochlear vascular pathology occurs earlier than previously reported and precedes sensorineural hearing loss. The work defines a disease mechanism whereby early malformation of the cochlear microvasculature precedes loss of vessel integrity and decline of endocochlear potential, leading to hearing loss and hair cell death while sparing spiral ganglion cells. This provides essential information on events defining the optimal therapeutic window and indicates that early intervention is needed. In an era of advancing gene therapy and small-molecule technologies, this study establishes Ndp-mutant mice as a platform to test such interventions and has important implications for understanding the progression of hearing loss in Norrie disease.

THE IMPACT OF SELF PERCEPTION ON THE PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN FAKO DIVISION OF SOUTH WEST REGION, CAMEROON

Perceived as an overwhelming tragedy, severe visual impairment relegated its victims to lives of hopelessness, questionable behaviour and dependence. In most cultures of the ancient world, blind people were either revered as having mystical powers or reviled as beggars and misfits. In ancient Israel, blind men were tellers of sacred stories. This study was aimed at investigating “The Impact of Visual Impairment on the Personality Development of Persons with Visual Impairment in Fako Division”. Three research objectives guided the study which were: to find out the effect of congenital blindness on the personality development of persons with visual impairment, to investigate the effect of adventitious blindness on the personality development of persons with visual impairment, and to examine the effect of low vision on the personality development of persons with visual impairment. A descriptive Survey research design was adopted in this study. The purposive sampling technique was used to get the sample for the study. 18 persons with visual impairment formed the sample of the study. The instrument for data collection was the Questionnaire and was validated by some classmates and lecturers of the field of Special Education, and the supervisor of the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that: congenital blindness affects the personality development of persons with visual impairment with an average mean of 2.6, adventitious blindness affects the personality development of persons with visual impairment with an average mean of 2.8 and finally, low vision affects the personality development of persons with visual impairment with an average mean of 2.9 in the Fako Division. The study suggested that the government should reinforce laws binding families, communities and the society at large so as to do away with prejudice and stereotypes which affects personality development. Aid should be given to special centres by providing necessary equipment’s to facilitates their training so as to make them confident and reduce low self-esteem in persons with visual impairments.