What is Low Vision?
Low vision refers to visual impairment that cannot be corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medical treatment and surgery. A person with low vision has severely reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and/or significantly obstructed field of view.
Low vision may affect a person's daily living activities such as recognising faces, reading small prints and large signs, difficulty in recognising obstacles and reduced independent mobility.
What Causes Low Vision?
The common causes of low vision are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, neurological conditions and trauma.
How Does NUH Help Persons with Low Vision?
Persons with low vision usually retain some usable vision. We have a Low Vision Enabling Programme that comprises a multidisciplinary team of optometrist and occupational therapist who specialises in low vision rehabilitation. The team works closely with the patient and family to help the patient regain function lost by visual impairment. This involves a comprehensive approach in addressing visual and functional issues that results in problems with reading, safety, daily living activities, community participation and psychological adjustment to vision loss.
What is Low Vision Rehabilitation?
Low vision rehabilitation aims to reduce the functional impediments imposed by vision loss. It begins with a low vision consultation, which involves optometric low vision evaluation and occupational therapy assessment. This may be followed by prescription and dispensing of low vision optical devices such as magnifiers, telescopes, assistive technology and sensorial adaptive devices as appropriate. In addition, visual skills trainings and adaptive therapies may be provided to maximise function, safety and independence of the individual with low vision. The comprehensive rehabilitation service will be conducted at home and/or in the clinic.
NUH Vision Care Services in the Community
The NUH Vision Care Services, comprising the Eye Care for Empowered Community (EC2) and Seniors’ Eye Rehabilitation Programme (SEER) <*HYPERLINK TO PAGE 1 ACCORDION 7 / COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH SECTION>, was set up in 2015 to help identify seniors with poor or low vision, and provide early intervention in the form of treatment and to teach them to function safely within the limitations of their low vision.
Low Vision Consultation and Rehabilitation Are Provided By:
Mr Danial Bohan
Dip Optom (Merit), BSc (Hons), MSc
Senior Optometrist
Ms Chen Xuanyu
BHSc (Occ Therapy), PG Cert Low Vision Rehab
Senior Occupational Therapist