Low Vision Rehabilitation/What is low vision/Enquiry

Enquiry overview

This enquiry will introduce students to the concept of low vision and they will develop understanding of the impact eye disease when treatment is no longer an option. In addition, the principles of low vision care are described together with discussion of the reasons why patients do not access or have difficulty accessing services that could help them.

You should complete all the topics in this enquiry by the end of week 2.

Focus on Low Vision is an excellent publication by the Centre for Eye Research which will be useful to complete all the topics in this enquiry. You should refer to it often.

Impact of Ocular Disease (visual & psychosocial)
What is low vision?

Mrs Thelma Scope is a patient at See Well Australia. Through Mrs Scope you will come to understand what low vision is, how it is defined and what it means to have an impairment. In addition, you will consider the epidemiology and impact of low vision in Australia.

Task 1

Watch the What is Low Vision? lectorial where you will find out about your new patient Mrs Thelma Scope.

Next, answer this set of questions. Consult the resources below in addition to finding your own resources. When answering the questions, think about what you know so far about Mrs Scope. Discuss and compare your answers with the students in your group.

• Terminology in Eye Health
• WHO | Visual Impairment and Blindness factsheet
• Oxford Dictionary

Task 2

Referring to the Eye Research Australia (Clear Insight) Economic Impact and Cost of Low Vision in Australia publication, answer these questions. Don't forget to consider your patient Thelma when answering the questions.

Multi-disciplinary approach
Principles of low vision rehabilitation

Through your patient, Mrs Thelma Scope, you have come to understand what the difference is between low vision, vision impairment and legal blindness. You have also considered the psychosocial and financial/economic impact of vision impairment.
The next task is to consider the key elements are of a low vision assessment and the principles of low vision rehabilitation. Once again, Thelma Scope's case study will assist your understanding of these concepts.

Task

Watch the playlist related to Principles of Vision Rehabilitation.

Read the following articles:

• Markowitz SN. Principles of modern low vision rehabilitation.
• Vukicevic M. Functional vision assessment.

These readings are essential to your understanding of the principles of low vision rehabilitation.

Low vision service models and barriers to access

Task

Working with the members of your group, read the following two articles and answer the questions below.

• Matti AI et. al. Access to low-vision rehabilitation services: barriers and enablers.
• O’Connor PM et. al. Access and utilization of a new low-vision rehabilitation service.

1. What is the definition of “low-vision” according to O’Connor?
2. How does Matti define “low-vision rehabilitation”? Does this differ from what your perception of it had been? Explain.
3. How many patients access low-vision services in Australia and what factors stop them from doing so?
4. Describe the differences in the provision of low vision services across Australia and across different agencies, as indicated in the article by Matti.
5. Briefly describe the referral process/patient journey as described by Matti. What criticisms/comments do you have about this process? How could it be improved?
6. In the studies by Matti and O’Connor what are the main barriers that inhibit low-vision patients from accessing services?
7. What do you think could be done to help improve access to low-vision rehabilitation services in Australia?