scholarly journals Optometric low vision rehabilitation practice in Norway - public health care

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-15
Author(s):  
Bodil Helland ◽  
Vibeke Sundling
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Optical Correction ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation

The purpose was to describe the patient characteristics, the prescribing trends and habits among the public health care optometrists who perform low vision rehabilitation in Norway. Data were collected using a questionnaire to gather background details of the optometrist, and a practice registration form to register patient characteristics and information about the low vision device(s) prescribed. Both forms were distributed to 44 public health care optometrists. A total of 30 questionnaires and 20 practice registration forms were returned. This included data for 147 patients with visual impairment. Moderate to severe visual impairment according to The World Health Organization (WHO)’s definition (visual acuity ≤ 6/18) was present in 82 (59%) of the patients. Three out of four (75%) patients did not have sufficient vision for reading. Distance visual acuity was improved with best optical correction in 39 (28%) of the patients compared to the presenting visual acuity. The most frequently prescribed optical devices for near and distance vision were hand magnifiers and filters/tinted lenses respectively. Optometrists play an important role in vision rehabilitation of older people attending the low vision services.  A number of the patients seen in low vision services are referred from non-eye care professionals and achieve improved vision with appropriate optical correction. Others are only mildly visually impaired with adequate optical correction alone. This indicates a potential to use general optometric practice as the first step for vision rehabilitation, as a number of people are only mildly visually impaired with adequate optical correction.

scholarly journals Causes of vision impairment and assessment of need for low vision services for students of blind schools in Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Kansakar ◽  
HB Thapa ◽  
KC Salma ◽  
S Ganguly ◽  
RP Kandel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Childhood Blindness ◽  
Vision Assessment ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
One Year

Background: The present study is first of its kind to evaluate causes of visual impairment of blind students in Nepal and assess their need for low vision rehabilitation services. Aim: To evaluate causes of vision impairment of students enrolled in blind schools in Nepal and assess the need for low vision rehabilitation services in these students. Materials and methods: A survey was conducted in 12 blind schools in Nepal, which were registered with Nepal Association for Welfare of Blindness (NAWB).It was conducted by a team of an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, by using standard eye examination protocols of the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Program (WHO/ PBL). Results: Of the 345 students enrolled in 12 schools, 285 students were examined (response rate of 82.61%). The students were in the 5 - 29 years age group. Nearly three-fourth of the children had become blind within one year of age and 52.3% visually impaired at birth and 20.7% developed vision impairment within one year of age. After refraction, 26 students (9.12%) had mild visual impairment, 21 students (7.37%) had severe visual impairment and 238 students (83.51%) were blind. The main cause of vision impairment was found to be corneal 35.79% and retina diseases, mainly dystrophy, 20.35% followed by problems with the whole globe, lens and optic nerve, accounting for 13.33%, 12.63% and 12.98% respectively. The major etiological factors were those of childhood such as Vitamin A deficiency, measles and similar causes (42.11%) followed by hereditary causes (25.26%). Of the total students examined, 48.07% were visually impaired due to preventable causes and 16.14% treatable aggregating to 64.21% of avoidable blindness. Fifty seven (28.22%) students could read smaller than 2 M print size after low vision assessment for near and 33(15.78%) students benefited with telescopic trial for distance low vision. Conclusion: In Nepal, renewed focus on providing best possible quality of life for visually impaired children by proper low vision assessment and eye health education focusing on, general public and community health workers, with governmental and institutional support is required to achieve Vision 2020 objectives to decrease childhood blindness. Key words: childhood blindness, Nepal, blind school study, low vision, vision impairment    doi: 10.3126/kumj.v7i1.1764       Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2009), Vol. 7, No. 1, Issue 25, 44-49        

Changes in quality of life in visually impaired patients after low-vision rehabilitation

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Renieri ◽  
Susanne Pitz ◽  
Norbert Pfeiffer ◽  
Manfred E. Beutel ◽  
Rüdiger Zwerenz
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation

Long term outcomes in dry age-related macular degeneration following low vision rehabilitation interventions

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097362
Author(s):  
Yulia Pyatova ◽  
Monica Daibert-Nido ◽  
Samuel N Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Fixation Stability ◽  
Functional Vision ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Distance Vision

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in the older age groups. In the absence of a known therapy, low vision rehabilitation aims at preserving residual functional vision at optimal levels. Long term functional outcomes from Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) in AMD cases were never scrutinized in the past. This study brings some clarification in this matter. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study including data up to 2 years following the baseline visit. Low Vision Assessments included microperimetry testing and recommendations for low vision devices for distance vision. Outcomes measures selected for this study were best corrected distance visual acuity, fixation stability and preferred retinal locus (PRL) topography and LVR interventions. Results: Data on 17 patients with an average age of 89.2 ± 4.4 years was collected. In those with better vision than 20/400 loss of vision was about 1.4 letter per year as tested with ETDRS charts compared with losses of four letters per year in a population without LVR interventions. Fixation stability continued to deteriorate while PRL eccentricity seemed to remain the same. In about half of cases there was a change in the topographic location of the PRL to a different retinal quadrant. Conclusion: Long term, as expected, changes were noticed in visual acuity, fixation stability and PRL topography. However, it seems that LVR interventions for distance vision help patients retain significantly better functional vision at the 2 years follow up interval when compared to others.

Use of the Alternating Treatment Design to Evaluate Intervention in Low Vision Rehabilitation

1992 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 435-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. LaGrow ◽  
S. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Alternating Treatment Design ◽  
Treatment Design

This article illustrates the use of the alternating treatment design to assess the effectiveness of individualized interventions in low vision rehabilitation. The design was used to determine if enlarging copy with a photocopier and adding contrast would be effective in reducing the amount of time a visually impaired student required to read a map and graph. Two levels of magnification were compared to determine the level of intervention to be provided.

scholarly journals Refraction and Low Vision Rehabilitation in Patients with Oculocutaneous Albinism

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Altınbay
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Oculocutaneous Albinism ◽  
Refractive Errors ◽  
Low Vision Aids ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Near Visual Acuity ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
High Degree

Purpose:  To evaluate the types of refractive errors and compliance of patients of Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA) to low vision aids. Study Design:  Descriptive observational study. Place and Duration of Study:  Provincial Directorate of Health, Adana City Education and Research Hospital, from 2010 to 2018. Material and Methods:  Seven hundred and fifteen patients attended the hospital between 2010 and 2018 with the complaint of low vision and 31 patients with OCA were included in this study by convenient sampling. Best corrected distance and near visual acuity (VA) was measured along with the complete ocular examination. Patients were classified according to low vision and refraction degrees. High degree near eyeglasses, Galilean and Keplerian telescopes, magnifiers and special filter glasses were used as low vision aids (LVA). Results:  Mean age was 16.45 ± 12.72 years. On admission, mean distance VA was 0.12 ± 0.07 [mean log MAR 0.9], near VA was 1.48M ± 0.74M, astigmatism was 4.02 ± 1.45 diopters (D), and spherical equivalents were 1.54 ± 4.96 D. Hypermetropia was seen more frequently than myopia. Twenty-seven (87%) patients were prescribed telescopes for distance. Near visual acuity increased from 1.4M ± 0.7M to 0.9M ± 0.4M after rehabilitation. There was an increase in distance visual acuity in all patients (p < 0.001). Seventeen (63%) patients bought the telescope, and 15 (55%) patients used the device. The most preferred special filter glasses were 450nm (39%) and 540 nm (25%). Conclusion:  Astigmatism in oculocutaneous albinism was with the rule and the most commonly detected refractive error was hypermetropia. Patients are non-compliant in buying telescopes in which case tablet and computers with special applications for low vision can be better options.

scholarly journals Low vision rehabilitation for better quality of life in visually impaired adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth MA van Nispen ◽  
Gianni Virgili ◽  
Mirke Hoeben ◽  
Maaike Langelaan ◽  
Jeroen Klevering ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation

Help seeking among vision-impaired adults referred to their GP for depressive symptoms: patient characteristics and outcomes associated with referral uptake

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith E. Holloway ◽  
Bonnie A. Sturrock ◽  
Ecosse L. Lamoureux ◽  
Jill E. Keeffe ◽  
Gwyneth Rees
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Adults with vision impairment commonly experience depression; however, depression often remains undetected and therefore untreated in this group. Using a prospective longitudinal design, the aim of this study was to determine the rate of uptake for a referral to a general practitioner (GP), in vision-impaired adults, who were screened for depression in low vision rehabilitation and eye-care settings. Fifty-seven vision-impaired adults (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from low vision rehabilitation centres across Australia and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, between June 2010 and May 2012. Participants screened positive for depressive symptoms and were referred to their GP for follow up. Telephone assessments took place at baseline, 3 and 6 months to determine uptake of a GP referral and changes in depressive symptoms over 6 months. Forty-six per cent of participants followed through with the GP referral. A desire for emotional support and stigma towards seeking support from a psychologist were significantly associated with uptake (both P < 0.05). GPs were more likely to recommend anti-depressant medication compared with a psychologist consultation (69% v. 54%) and patients themselves were more likely to take anti-depressant medication (94% v. 14% who saw a psychologist). Depressive symptoms decreased significantly over 6 months for those who followed through with a GP referral (baseline M = 10.04, s.d. = 5.76 v. 6-months M = 6.20, s.d. = 3.38; z = –2.26, P = 0.02) but not for those who did not use the GP referral (z = –1.92, P = 0.55). This method of referral to a GP following depression screening may provide an effective pathway to detect and manage depression in vision-impaired adults.

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