Low
Vision/Vision Rehabilitation
According to a recent publication from Prevent
Blindness America, more than 152,000 people in
Illinois have vision impairments as a result of
macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma
or other conditions.
What if my vision cannot be corrected?
When your vision cannot be corrected
or improved medically, surgically or with conventional
glasses, you are said to have "low vision."
Hope of improved vision and independent living
is available through the use of prescription optical,
non-optical and electronic devices to maximize
residual vision. The ultimate goal of low vision
specialists is to provide individuals of all ages,
who have visual impairments, with the tools and
training necessary to function independently at
home, at school, in the workplace and within the
community.
Low vision prescriptive glasses, devices and
technology can improve visual abilities for your
activities of daily living. The knowledge and
hope gained by the low vision rehabilitation experience
often lifts your human spirit and opens up opportunities
that may have seemed lost.
It is important to point out that the low vision
rehabilitation service is a specialty service
that does not replace current eye care from your
retinal specialist and/or other eye doctors providing
medical intervention. If you have vision loss,
your care will be co-managed by doctors to address
medical and rehabilitation issues related to your
respective eye condition.
What is low vision rehabilitation?
Low vision rehabilitation is the process
of treating and educating those of you who may
be visually disabled. Vision is maximized by evaluation,
diagnosis and treatment.
The rehabilitation process includes the development
of an individual rehabilitation plan specifying
clinical therapy and/or instruction in compensatory
approaches.
Rehabilitation may be necessary when any condition,
disease or injury that causes a visual impairment
results in functional limitation or disability.
Rehabilitation also may include the following
services:
- Medical
- Optometric
- Allied health
- Social
- Educational
- Psychological
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