Which of the following describes a potential cause of visual impairments?

Visual impairments can result from a variety of medical conditions, and cataracts and glaucoma are two primary examples. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to decreased vision and potentially blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma, on the other hand, is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to high eye pressure, and can result in irreversible vision loss. Both conditions are significant contributors to visual impairments and are age-related, but they can also affect individuals at younger ages due to genetic factors or other health conditions.

In contrast, while attention deficit disorder and speech delays can impact a child's ability to learn and communicate effectively, they are not direct causes of visual impairments. Diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, which affects vision, but it is less directly associated with immediate visual impairment compared to cataracts and glaucoma, which are specifically related to structural issues within the eye itself.