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Aurora Medical Center in Washington County
Low vision rehabilitation
What is low vision?
Low vision is a term used when a person has a permanent loss of some but not all of their vision. The vision loss is enough to interfere with daily activities and the sight cannot be improved with conventional eye glasses, medically or surgically.
Some symptoms of the eye problems that cause low vision include:
- Spotty areas of vision loss
- Dull and cloudy vision
- Loss of vision in the center of your view - often noticed when reading or trying to recognize faces
- Loss of vision on the edges of your view - tunnel vision
- Distortion - edges or straight lines appear curved or bent
- Glare - having difficulty seeing because of glare or halos where you previously saw clearly
When would low vision rehabilitation help?
- An Occupational Therapy evaluation would be beneficial when:
- The individual with decreased vision has had a recent eye evaluation and has had their vision corrected to maximum benefit
- The individual has difficulty completing functional tasks due to decreased vision
- The individual is interested in an assessment to see if there are adaptations or modifications that may increase his/her overall ability to function
- An eye care professional refers a patient for an Occupational Therapy assessment of his/her ability to complete functional tasks and/or for specific training in the use of a prescribed device such as a magnifier
What is low vision rehabilitation?
An Occupational Therapist with special training in the area of low vision, works together with the individual and his/her family, when appropriate, to help them to learn ways to be able to have the highest level of independence and function possible despite their low vision.
The Low Vision Rehabilitation Program starts with an Occupational Therapy Activities of Daily Living Assessment. Through this assessment, specific self-care and homemaking tasks that the individual is having difficulty with are identified and targeted for treatment.
An in-home assessment is recommended and may be completed on the initial visit or a subsequent visit. During the in home portion of assessment the additional areas of lighting, contrast, patterns, glare, and any adaptive methods for self-cares and homemaking tasks currently being utilized are assessed.
The Occupational Therapist will work together with the individual and their family to provide instruction in any of the areas below identified as problem areas during the assessment.
- Training in the use of prescribed magnifier for functional reading and writing tasks.
- Environmental Adaptation
- Lighting - additional lighting, different type, addition of shades, lighting location, etc.
- Contrast - usually addition of
- Patterns - eliminate as needed
- Labeling and Marking - food, clothing, etc.
- Adaptation using other senses
- Training in specific functional mobility techniques: protective techniques, trailing, using landmarks, maintaining orientation, glare control
- Task Analysis and problem solving for completion of difficult functional tasks
How can I obtain low vision rehabilitation?
- Obtain an order for an Occupational Therapy Low Vision Evaluation from your regular physician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist
- Call the Aurora Rehabilitation Center if you have any questions or desire to schedule an appointment 262-670-7233
- Occupational Therapy is covered by most major insurance plans and Medicare