Cortical visual impairments are caused by which of the following?

• A. Injury or structural differences in the brain
• B. Diseases of the eye
• C. Inner ear infection
• D. Eye color defects

Answer: (A)

Cortical visual impairments come from issues in the brain’s ability to process what the eyes see. The visual information is captured by the eyes, but the cortex and its pathways interpret that input. When those brain areas are damaged or structurally different—due to injury, congenital malformations, or other brain conditions—the processing can be impaired even if the eyes themselves are healthy. That’s why the problem is described as brain-based rather than eye-based.

The other scenarios involve the eyes or unrelated systems. Diseases of the eye affect the retina or optic nerve and cause ocular visual impairment. An inner ear infection affects hearing, not vision. Eye color defects don’t typically cause vision problems.