Current Practice in Low Vision Rehabilitation of Age-related Macular Degeneration and Usefulness of Virtual Reality as a Rehabilitation Tool

Abstract

Purpose: This study surveys current low vision rehabilitation practice methodologies among French practitioners and it describes their opinions about the utility of using virtual reality as a tool for low vision rehabilitation training in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed between October 2017 and February 2018. 471 orthoptists (110 students and 361 graduates) responded to the survey. Questions concerned the orthoptist’s educational and demographic background, extent of training in virtual reality as a reeducation tool, and mode of practice including frequency of patient visits, goals, and methods of rehabilitation training. Results: Out of 361 practicing orthoptists, 47.75% were low vision rehabilitation providers, and 52.25% were not. A provider’s likelihood of using low vision rehabilitation immediately after graduating from university was positively correlated to his confidence in the training he had received. Most respondents were receptive to using virtual reality as a reeducation tool. Conclusions: Analysis of current low vision rehabilitation practice demonstrates no standardization of treatment protocols among providers. Although orthoptists overall acknowledge the benefits of virtual reality as a rehabilitation tool, orthoptist curriculum varies greatly across universities, which thus affects a provider’s likelihood of offering low vision rehabilitation. Moreover, this lack of standardization is a problem worldwide, which suggests a need for better clinical guidelines in low vision rehabilitation practice.