Low vision assessment tools

These clocks are often a fair distance away. Ask the client to read something closer, such as a food menu. Clients should have their visual adaptations on. Be proactive and ask family members to bring replacements in if they are expected to have a longer length of stay such as in ARU.

If the client is relatively high functioning to be able to mobilize easily and you have a Snellen chart, you can use this instead to get a more accurate report of their visual acuity. You can use a finger, a pen, penlight, or similar object held about inches away. Ask the client if they have and currently experience diplopia. If diplopia is reported, it should go away with closing of 1 eye. With 2 index fingers, 2 pens, or 2 highlighters held inches away, ask the client to focus on the tips of the objects between left and right.

Hold objects further apart for more dramatic effect during observation. Eyes should both dart and fixate on each object. Position yourself at eye level with the client. Braille and Audio Program Website. Welcome to a site devoted to sharing experience, knowledge and resources to make your job of being a great therapist a lot easier.

I have been an occupational therapist for more than 30 years. You can adjust them to meet your special vision needs. For instance, you can add contrast to make printed words darker.

Some video magnifiers can read text aloud. There are many new video magnifiers. The vision rehabilitation team will be knowledgeable about current technology and what can be provided at home or in the classroom. Audio books and electronic books. With audio books, you can listen to text that is read aloud.

With electronic books like Kindle, Nook and others, you can increase word size and contrast. Smartphones and tablets let you change text size, adjust contrast and use voice commands. There also are many apps to choose from, such as programs that read material aloud, magnify or illuminate.

Computers can usually read aloud or magnify what is on the screen. Old Equipment Instead of disposing or recycling your low vision device, consider donating it to a vision rehabilitation center, non-profit organization, support group, public library, or a retirement facility.

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Principles of assessing and managing patients with low vision. You should encourage patients to access low vision services as soon as they feel they need them, rather than waiting for significant visual loss, as this can lead to better outcomes.

You should follow local protocols for the assessment and management of patients with low vision. You should ensure the patient has had a recent eye examination, which determines their refraction and ocular health, before performing a low vision assessment. You should understand the multidisciplinary nature of low vision assessment and management and give patients the contact details of other members of the low vision multidisciplinary team or other relevant parties, as appropriate.

Low vision assessment is rarely a one-off process and you should encourage patients to return for follow-up assessments at appropriate intervals. This is in addition to any other regular optometric or ophthalmological care. References 33 Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning Low vision, habilitation and rehabilitation framework for adults and children [Accessed 18 Nov ]. Assessing patients with low vision. If you do not have sufficient expertise to assess a patient with low vision, you should refer the patient to someone who has.

This may be an optometrist or a dispensing optician based in a low vision service, or the local social services department. You may need to assess the patient's: needs. Some patients may have a personal care plan or low vision passport that would assist in this assessment visual acuity, including use of distance and near logMAR charts.

If these are not available you may be able to use conventional charts to achieve meaningful results contrast sensitivity glare function central visual function using, for example, Amsler charts and appropriate colour vision tests visual field.

You should: repeat field assessments, where necessary and possible, to obtain a meaningful result, and be aware of the limitations of static screening equipment particularly in cases of severe sight loss. If you do not have access to a conventional kinetic test, such as Goldmann, you should use confrontation type tests and Amsler charts for central vision to give practical advice to the patient binocular and accommodative status, where appropriate, for example in phakic children with low vision.

When you have completed the appropriate assessments you must advise the patient your findings in a way they can understand. You should pass on relevant information to the low vision team or other appropriate parties, with an explanation of the results.