Low Vision Rehabilitation Questions & Answers What Is Low Vision? Even though your eye doctor may have told you or your loved one that ‘there is nothing we can do for you,” that you are “legally blind” or “visually-impaired,” there are many, varied, effective options for rehabilitation to keep the patient independent. Low Vision is defined as having a significant visual handicap but also having significant useable residual vision. Low Vision is the state of having a reduction in quality of vision sufficient to interfere with a person's daily activities. Most patients with low vision are certainly not blind, and most can be helped in varying degrees to make better use of their vision, or develop other means by which to accomplish tasks that used to demand higher levels of vision. August Colenbrander, Clinical Low Vision, 1976 Low Vision Rehabilitation Many patients are familiar with rehabilitation. Rehab is critical for patients independence after a heart attack, stroke or accident. After vision is impaired and surgical or medical treatments are initiated, Low Vision Rehab is crucial! Low vision care is a sub-specialty of optometry that deals with helping the visually-impaired person make the best use of their residual vision. The low vision optometrist uses optical devices, as well as non-optical devices, to improve the patient's ability to maintain an independent lifestyle. The low vision specialist also is a valuable consultant for the visually-impaired, informing patients about many organizations, companies, and services that help in other ways. Learning about these resources can often times be difficult for the patient with low vision and for families. The low vision specialist can steer the patient to these beneficial services. What Services Are Available? Consultation: initial and ongoing. Detailed case history including the following: Health history including eye health history. Analysis of visual needs and tasks which are unable to be accomplished secondary to new or long standing visual loss. Examination for health of the eye in coordination with the patient's history. Examination for the refractive aspect of vision. Evaluation for optical and non-optical devices. Evaluation for the application of these devices. Orientation and/or mobility instruction with or without devices. Training for driving with bioptics (spectacle-mounted telescopes). Continued evaluation for possible updating of low vision prescriptions due to changes in life style or active disease processes, including evaluating further improvement or loss of vision and how this relates to the current low vision prescription. What Are Low Vision Devices? Low vision devices are of many types, but most fall into two basic categories: Optical and Non-Optical. Optical low vision devices change the way objects appear, usually using lenses of some kind. Optical devices include spectacles, hand magnifiers, stand magnifiers, telescopes, microscopes, and field expanding lenses. Non-optical devices are available in a myriad of styles, serving many different functions. These devices are usually intended to help the visually-impaired patient perform a task visually or non-visually that the patient otherwise finds difficult. These devices include easels, talking watches and scales, check writing guides, typoscopes, large dials for telephones, and electronic devices, just to name a few. Computer-assisted options are expanding in quality and quantity. Hardware and software are available for the ambitious reader. What Are The Costs Involved? Because of the considerable time that low vision care demands, the costs are greater than routine eye care. They are comparable to contact lens fees which also take more time and numerous follow-up visits. The low vision devices themselves range in cost greatly, from inexpensive magnifiers that may cost just a few dollars to elaborate telescopic systems that run several hundred dollars. These devices are available on “loan”, for the patient to learn to use at home or work. The comprehensive consultation for Low vision Rehabilitation is covered in large part by Medicare and/or most all medical insurance plans. The devices and additional services are not covered since they are not deemed "medically necessary." The consultation lasts about two hours and is best when performed with a family member present. The eyes will NOT be dilated since your routine eye doctor provides that service. Costs: Consult (usually covered by insurance)  $203.00 Central visual field testing (covered)     $  25.00 – 40.00 Home training for self-tests (included) Complex or simple refraction (not covered)       $ 25.00 – 45.00 Review of Community Resources (not covered) $ 20.00 – 30.00 Explanations: Thorough training with the Amsler Grid helps you be successful with the single most important self-test between visits to your eye doctor. The purpose of the refraction is to evaluate how clearly your eyes may be able to see using conventional lenses. There are many varied free resources (mostly through tax dollars) that need to be shared with you and your family. You will want to reap the benefit of these ideas.