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There’s plenty you can do

“We’re doing all we can do.” Losing visual abilities can be devastating. If the medical prognosis is “It’s not going to get any better, and it may get worse,” you may find yourself at an emotionally difficult place.

It’s never too early to consider professional low vision assessment and rehabilitation. There are professionals who can teach you how to best adjust to your vision loss, maximize what you have, learn strategies and utilize new technologies…

Think of low vision rehabilitation as another modality on the continuum of your eye care.  Another piece of your treatment plan puzzle.

What is vision rehabilitation?

Low vision services work with you to utilize your remaining vision to its fullest potential.Low vision doctors prescribe specialized eyewear, filters, magnifiers, and adaptive equipment, recommend independent living aids, and train and counsel people with low vision.

Low Vision services are not focused on the cause of your vision problem and are not meant to replace the need for concurrent treatments such as laser, medication and surgery you may be undergoing, which are the ____  of your eye doctor or ophthalmologist.

Assessment

The first step in low vision rehabilitation is a functional vision assessment to evaluate the extent of your useful vision. This assessment is very different than the testing you receive from you eye doctor, who is concerned not with your functional vision but with how your eyes are functioning.

Although assessment may include testing of ocular functions such as acuity, visual field, contrast sensitivity, depth perception, and color vision, special emphasis is placed on the functional problems you are experiencing such as reading, working in the kitchen, glare problems, travel vision, functioning in the workplace, using a computer, etc.

Developing a plan

The assessment allows the low vision doctor to develop a plan for low vision rehabilitation that identifies your goals and which services and device  are best suited to maximizing your remaining vision and your quality of life. recommendations may include:

• Specialized eyewear for low vision,  including specialized materials, lens styles, filters, and antireflection and ultraviolet coatings.
• Light and glare control, adjusting and supplementing lighting, including specialized task lighting or modification of work, home or office lighting
• Optical devices to help you adapt include magnifiers or dedicated microscopic reading eyewear for reading or other close or intermediate tasks. Bioptic systems, hand held telescopes or head worn binocular aids for distance vision.
• Visual field rehabilitation such as scanning therapy and/or adaptive strategies, as well as technology such as visual field awareness prisms and reverse telescopes.
• Computer enhancements such as a larger monitor, screen enlargement software or screen readers.
• Low vision training, including training for eccentric fixation or scanning, for both home and office
• Occupational therapy for activities of daily living, scanning therapy or home modification.
• Mobility and orientation training 
• Independent living and personal management skills training
• Independent movement and travel skills training
• Driving concerns, including evaluating your ability to continue to drive
• Occupational therapy
• Counseling to help you adjust to your vision loss

This list is but a sampling of the strategies you can learn to adapt in low vision rehabilitation.

Who and where 

When dealing with vision loss, your eye doctor is likely to be the professional you turn to first.

Your eye doctor’s concern and treatment will be focused on the physiology and functioning of your eyes. Their office, equipment and procedures are designed to treat diseases and conditions of the eyes.

For vision rehabilitation services you will want to find a vision rehabilitation practice trained and equipped to provide vision assessment and rehabilitation.

These resources can help you locate a vision rehabilitation service provider:

VisionAware

others…

Why is it hard to get yourself to a low vision assessment?

You may be feeling helpless and want to withdraw. You may want to deny that there is a problem that needs addressing! Perhaps you are dealing with multiple serious medical issues.