The Benefits of Early Introduction to Low Vision Rehabilitation Services

Reprinted with permission from Lighthouse International

Power through Knowledge

When faced with a loss or impairment, individuals experience a variety of emotions. Some individuals deal with these emotions quickly, while others require time and assistance to work through states such as shock, anxiety, denial, mourning and depression to acknowledgment, acceptance and finally adjustment and adaptation. George Bernard Shaw stated, "Power is the faculty or capacity to act, the strength and potency to accomplish something. It is the vital energy to make choices and decisions. It also includes the capacity to overcome deeply embedded habits and to cultivate higher, more effective ones." When dealing with vision loss, an individual must be given the power through knowledge of how low vision rehabilitation treatment options will benefit them at various stages of their disease. This will allow them to cultivate new thoughts about how they will be able to function with a visual impairment.

Assuaging Fear

Some might argue that presenting low vision rehabilitation treatment options to an individual early in their disease process sends the message that this is what they will ultimately require. It is possible that for selected individuals, this may occur. However, as Ralph Waldo Emerson stated "fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world." When faced with vision loss, fear of the unknown - fear of what the future holds - can make it difficult for that individual, their family, friends, teachers and employers to know how to move forward. Any discussion about low vision rehabilitation treatment options with an individual who is early in their disease process should be preceded by a caveat along the lines of ...

"Information about these treatment options is being presented not as a predictor of ‘this is where you are going to end up' but as a way for you to know about the treatment options available to allow you to continue to function efficiently in today's visually oriented society."

With this information, the individual will understand that their visual impairment does not have to lead to a visual disability, or even worse a visual handicap. They will understand the timeliness and appropriateness of low vision rehabilitation and how it can allow them to maximize their remaining visual abilities.

Parents' Concerns for Children with Visual Impairment

Parents of children with congenital or early acquired vision loss will have many concerns about what their child's vision loss will mean both academically and functionally. These parents will have received the medical diagnosis for their child's eye condition, but will likely not have been told how this condition will affect their child's functional abilities. Statements such as your child is "legally blind," your child will "never be able to drive," your child will "never be able to read visually" or your child needs to be "placed in a special school" can be devastating to parents and should be avoided.

Parents of a child who is visually impaired will benefit from information concerning how adaptations in the classroom can be made to help their child. Additionally, they should be made aware of how reading spectacles, magnifiers, hand-held and spectacle mounted telescopes, computer adaptations and video magnification options can be employed, when appropriate, to help their child achieve success both academically and later as an adult.

Teenagers' and Working Age Adults' Concerns

For teenagers and working age adults, receiving a diagnosis of unresolvable vision loss can create concern for the individual with respect to their ability to maintain gainful employment, continue to operate a motor vehicle and participate in activities of daily living. Older individuals faced with a diagnosis of permanent vision loss are often concerned about their ability to preserve their independence, including staying in their own home, maintaining their financial affairs and also continuing to drive.

Teenagers and working age adults will benefit from an awareness of the myriad of devices available to help them maintain their independence while functioning at their fullest potential. The fear that vision loss will result in a loss of independence can ultimately lead to depression for older adults. Knowledge of how low vision rehabilitation treatment options can help them continue functioning independently will help alleviate these fears.

As Francis Bacon stated, "Knowledge is power." Knowledge about how low vision rehabilitation treatment options can allow individuals with visual impairment to continue to function both independently and efficiently will give them the power to move forward with their lives.

Mark Wilkinson, OD, Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

"The Benefits of Early Introduction to Low Vision Rehabilitation Services" by Mark Wilkinson, OD, reprinted from the Fall 2004 issue of EnVision with permission. Copyright 2004 Lighthouse International.