Neuroplasticity of the developing brain and child cortical visual impairment.

Unlike lesions occurring in more steady-state conditions of the adult nervous system, lesions during early phases have additional effects in redirecting subsequent development. It is arguable that this implies enhanced opportunities to mitigate the deleterious effects of such lesions. Further delineation of plasticity and the application of the resulting insights promise therapeutically important advances. Considering the problem of the cortical visual impaired children in a neurodevelopmental key, we illustrate the necessity that we have as clinicians to diagnose as early as possible any case of cortical visual damage in order to foster continued development of the visual nervous system during the period of its greatest flexibility and give the children the maximum opportunity to achieve their still limited visual potential.