Anorexia nervosa and visual impairment

Following a review of the scarce literature, the author presents two cases of anorexia nervosa in visually handicapped or blind adolescents. Though visual experience might be considered as an essential factor in body perception and cultural valuation of thinness, the cases illustrate that visual impairment may accentuate a series of psychosocial problems contributing to the development of anorexia nervosa. Finally, it is emphasized that severe starvation itself may lead to ocular and visual impairment.