by Dan Roberts A recent online nationwide poll (1) has joined similar past studies in revealing that people consider vision loss to be the “worst ailment that could happen to them relative to losing memory, speech, hearing, or a limb.” The researchers’ intent was to “underscore the importance of focusing on preservation of eye health and the [Read More]
Category: Low Vision Rehabilitation
Low Vision Rehabilitation Needs More Emphasis on Communication and Social Skills
Lea Hyvärinen, MD, PhD (Honorary Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences at Rehabilitation and Education in Blindness or Impairment of Vision in Dortmund, Germany) has described social difficulties caused by types of blindness and visual impairment. In her paper, “Effect of Vision Loss on Communication and Social Skills” she writes that “many problems in communication and social skills are due to misunderstandings [Read More]
New Approach to Low Vision Rehab Cuts Risk of Depression in Half
Depression is a common risk for people who have lost their vision, but a new study shows that a new approach called “behavior activation” can cut the risk in half. Researchers from Wilmer Eye Institute, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, and Wills Eye Hospital have announced results from their Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial (VITAL), designed [Read More]
What Is Low Vision?
By Dan Roberts An estimated fourteen million Americans have low vision, also called visual impairment. It is generally any interference with sight that hinders the performance of daily activities. More specifically, low vision describes varying degrees of sight loss caused by disease, trauma, or a congenital disorder. Low vision may appear as one or more of [Read More]
Low Vision: What to Do When “There’s Nothing More That Can be Done”
Reprinted with permission from Outlook, the electronic newsletter of the National Eye Health Education Program (Winter 2014) “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more that can be done. There is no cure for your eye condition.” It’s likely you’ve been on the receiving end of this devastating news. When an eye care provider says, “There’s nothing more [Read More]