Elham
Vision is one of the most important cognitive tools that humans have. A significant percentage of the causes of blindness or purblindness is hereditary, and can be prevented by avoiding consanguinity marriage that is common in Iran. According to a recent study on more than 300 thousand couples of different ethnicities about 38% of marriages in Iran are between blood relations. Elham’s parents are first cousins, and they conceived Elham without any genetic consultation. Ophthalmologists recommend that children, depending on their health and risk factors have complete eye examinations every 1 to 3 years. It is estimated that in preschool 1 out of 4 children and in primary school 1 out of 20 have an eye problem which, if untreated, can cause permanent loss of vision. Elham is a little girl of five, from the age of three she suffers from cataracts and corneal dystrophy. She underwent three unsuccessful surgeries on her left eye and still needs special care. In spite of her handicap she often expresses her perceptions and cognitions through the visual language.
