Low vision may be defined as any chronic form of vision impairment, not correctable by glasses or contact lenses, that adversely affects everyday function. Visual accessibility refers to factors that make an environment, device, or display usable by vision. In this article, I discuss the concept of visual accessibility with special reference to low vision. What role can vision science play in e...

introduction: in 1995, the world health organization (who) estimated that there were 37.1 million blind people worldwide. it has subsequently been reported that 110 million people have severely impaired vision, hence are at great risk of becoming blind. watkins predicted an annual increase of about two million blind worldwide. this study was designed to investigate the causes of blindness and l...

Different levels of low vision care Primary/community level Nurses, ophthalmic nurses, communitybased workers, and other mid-level personnel can do the following: • Be alert and identify people who might have low vision • Refer them for diagnosis, prognosis, and good refraction • Refer older children and adults who have useful vision to low vision services at secondary or district level • Refer...

How can we persuade ophthalmologists and parents that it is important to refer children for low vision services? • During the eye examination, show parents what their child can currently see, and what they are likely to be able to see after refraction and low vision support. For example, reading a poster on the wall or text in a school book • Include simulation of low vision (for example, looki...

BACKGROUND Low vision in childhood is a significant barrier to learning and development, particularly for reading and education. Optical low vision aids may be used to maximise the child's functional vision. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously highlighted the importance of the use of low vision aids in managing children with visual impairment across the world. OBJECTIVES To ass...

Low vision and rehabilitat io integrating services into t Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, the above scenario is all too common in eye clinics. Faced with patients like Mary, eye care practitioners often feel uncomfortable and do not know what to say. Too often, therefore, these patients are turned away when in fact much can be done to help them. Patients like Mary, who are not comple...

The use of Information and Communication Technologies can be seen as an important factor for social inclusion in its different aspects economic, social, relational and informational, among others. Inclusion potentiality is even more relevant for groups of people who face limiting life conditions which determine social barriers. This study investigated the social support offered to people with d...