Low vision rehabilitation : skills for occupational therapists

Abstract

Many older people referred to occupational therapy may experience sight loss, yet, in the presence of other disability, it is commonly overlooked by health professionals (Horowitz 2004). Sight loss can result in significant difficulty with activities of daily living (Dahlin Ivanoff et al 1998) and can be very challenging, particularly for older people who also experience other agerelated disability (Colenbrander & Fletcher, 1995). Low vision rehabilitation includes relatively simple techniques that, if used correctly, can enable the individual to make best use of remaining vision. Incorporating low vision rehabilitation techniques into occupational therapy can enable clients to perform occupations and enhance quality of life (Scheiman et al 2006). Workshop outline: Specific approaches used in low vision rehabilitation will be explored, including: • an introduction to low vision aids; • correct use and ergonomic positioning of low vision aids; • task lighting; • eccentric fixation training, a technique for central vision loss; • strategies to help homonymous hemianopia and additional cognitive or perceptual complications including visual neglect and visual overload; • management of disability glare and/or poor contrast sensitivity. Workshop outcomes: This workshop, jointly facilitated by a low vision therapist and an occupational therapist, will provide both knowledge and practical skills. These can be used to augment current practice, enable appropriate early referral to specific services if appropriate and can reduce the risk of the myriad negative outcomes associated with sight loss for older people (Scheiman et al 2006).