Current Approaches to Low Vision (Re)Habilitation

Abstract

With increased life expectancy at birth and especially the rising incidence of age-related macular degeneration, low vision (re)habilitation is becoming more important today. Important factors to consider when presenting rehabilitation and treatment options to patients presenting to low vision centers include the diagnosis of the underlying disease, the patient’s age, their existing visual functions (especially distance and near visual acuity), whether visual loss is central or peripheral, whether their disease is progressive or not, the patient’s education level, and their expectations from us. Low vision patients must be guided to the right centers at the appropriate age, with appropriate indications, and with realistic expectations, and the rehabilitation process must be carried out as a multidisciplinary collaboration.

Keywords: Low vision; low vision (re)habilitation; Current approaches; LVA.

Figure 1

The ML Peli Prism/Multilens field expansion Peripheral Fresnel prism (from the archive of Prof. Şefay Aysun İdil, MD)

Figure 2

Sample microperimetry output (from the archive of Prof. Şefay Aysun İdil, MD) OD: Right eye

Figure 3

Microperimetry values of a patient with macular disease with unstable fixation before preferred retinal locus training (from the archive of Prof. Şefay Aysun İdil, MD) OD: Right eye

Figure 4

Microperimetry shows increased stability in the same patient after preferred retinal locus training (from the archive of Prof. Şefay Aysun İdil, MD) OD: Right eye

Figure 5

Scharioth macula lens (from the KMDT [Kesin Distribution and Foreign Trade Co. Ltd.] and Medicontur Turkey representative brochure)

Figure 6

Telescopic scleral contact lens

Figure 7

The glasses worn with telescopic scleral contact lenses

Figure 8

Argus II, extraocular part (http://secondsight.com/photos.html. Accessed on 08.18.2018)

Figure 9

Argus II, intraocular part (http://secondsight.com/photos.html. Accessed on 08.18.2018)

Figure 10

The electrode array of the Argus epiretinal prosthesis when implanted on the macula (from the archive of Prof. Emin Özmert, MD)

Figure 11

Appearance of shadows of the electrodes implanted on the macula in optical coherence tomography (from the archive of Prof. Emin Özmert, MD)

Figure 12

Argus rehabilitation room (from the Vision Research and Low Vision Rehabilitation Center)

Figure 13

Illuminated path designed for the walking exercises of patients undergoing Argus rehabilitation (from the Vision Research and Low Vision Rehabilitation Center)

Figure 14

BrainPort usage (Courtesy of Wicab, Inc.)

Figure 15

Implementation of transcorneal electrical stimulation - okuvision (https://www.retina-implant.de/en/. Accessed on 08.18.2018. Reproduced with permission from Retina Implant AG)