Adjustment to any vision loss is difficult. It takes self-acceptance, determination, support of family and friends, and learning new techniques to fully utilize any remaining vision. The goal of the Low Vision Services of the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), is to enable people with low vision to improve their ability to use their remaining vision so they can be independent and better able to meet the demands of everyday living. Low Vision Services are available at two clinical facilities owned and operated by SCCO, and at several clinical affiliations. These facilities include the Low Vision Service at the Eye Care Center, and the Low Vision Service at the Optometric Center of Los Angeles. What is Low Vision? Low vision is impaired vision that cannot be fully restored by conventional glasses, contact lenses, medical treatment, or surgery. Low vision is not total blindness. People with low vision have potentially useful vision. Over 4 million Americans have low vision. Sixty-eight percent of these people are over the age of 65. Six percent of people age 65 to 74 have low vision, 12 percent of those age 75 to 84, and 21 percent of those over age 85. Most people with low vision can become more visually independent if they make a commitment to learn how to use low vision aids and devices, as well as learn new methods to perform everyday tasks. What are the major causes of low vision? Low vision can be due to heredity, an injury, disease, or aging. Some of the most common causes of low vision are macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal detachment, and stroke. Regardless of the cause of vision loss, SCCO’s Low Vision Services offer patients options that will enable them to use their vision to its fullest potential. Do patients need to be referred to the College’s Low Vision Services? Many patients are referred to the College’s Low Vision Services by their optometrist, ophthalmologist, or other medical doctor. Area hospitals, Lions Clubs, the Braille Institute, and the California State Department of Rehabilitation also refer patients. The low vision clinical facilities obtain ocular health information from the referring doctor. At the conclusion of the low vision evaluation and rehabilitation period, the patient is instructed to return to the referring doctor for routine eye care. Patients who have not been referred are also accepted at SCCO’s clinical facilities for low vision rehabilitation care. If a patient has not had a complete ocular health examination within the past several months, then this procedure is performed as part of the low vision evaluation. How is the low vision patient helped? Through SCCO’s Low Vision Services, an optometrist who has had special training in low vision and an optometric intern will work as a team to assist you and your family in understanding the eye/vision disorder, and how it effects your vision and the ability to perform everyday activities. The team will ask questions about the history of your vision loss, what difficulties you are having performing tasks such as reading, writing, personal hygiene, cooking, and watching television. The team will also seek out what activities you have discontinued or have difficulty performing due to the vision loss. Throughout the examination the team will seek means by which you can again accomplish the tasks and activities that you desire. Next, the team will evaluate your remaining vision to determine its full potential. Testing procedures utilize specially designed low vision acuity charts and the measurement of the quality of remaining vision by means of sophisticated instrumentation and technology. If you have vocational, educational, or leisure needs, low vision devices will be evaluated to assist in these areas. The team will determine which techniques and devices will be most helpful in meeting your goals. There are many different devices available for a person with low vision, including magnifiers, telescopes, microscopes (high plus lenses for reading), custom lighting, and a special television to magnify reading material and photographs. Custom designed low vision devices also may be prescribed. Many patients use a combination of devices. Vision Rehabilitation Plan After completing the low vision examination, the team will design a vision rehabilitation plan. The plan will include the goals to which the team and you have agreed; the devices that will best fit those goals and your lifestyle; the training and support that will be the most helpful; and referral to supporting services and agencies. At subsequent visits, the devices will be dispensed and you will be trained on their proper use. Using the devices for independent living activities such as cooking, shopping, and reading mail, will also be taught. Computer technology and electronic reading devices will be evaluated if you have specific goals that can be met by them. Continuing Care It takes patience, practice and time to become proficient using low vision devices. The doctors and optometric interns of SCCO’s Low Vision Services are available to assist you in adapting to the devices. When you succeed in achieving your original goals, then new ones are set. Again, the optometrist and optometric intern will work with you to ensure your success. In addition, as your vision or lifestyle changes, your needs may also change; hence, the Low Vision Service will continue to work with you to meet these new needs. Referral Service If you have additional needs that cannot be met by the Low Vision Service, you will be referred. Such services may include orientation and mobility training (cane travel), counseling to aid in adjustment to the vision loss, rehabilitation counseling, vision support groups, and extensive training in activities of everyday living. At SCCO’s clinical facilities, specialty services are available, including primary eye care. Additional eye/vision care services include: contact lenses, pathology, vision therapy, and pediatrics. You will be referred to a specialty service if it can be of benefit to you, and if you do not already have an eyecare professional who can provide these services. The Benefit to You You can improve your remaining vision so that you can live as independently as possible, and have a productive and happy life. Appointments
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