What Is Low Vision in Occupational Therapy?
When visual ability (visual acuity or visual field) cannot be brought to a functional or sufficient level by known methods such as glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery, this condition is called blindness or low vision depending on the degree of impairment.
Vision, like all other senses, is very important for an individual to connect with their physical and social environment and to provide sensory input. Individuals with low vision experience difficulties in seeing and perceiving objects around them due to insufficient functional vision. Therefore, they receive inadequate information from their environment. During development, weak visual information is stored in the individual’s memory.
Although individuals with low vision may have a good visual memory store, their ability to use it is limited due to insufficient information. Changes in perception of light, color, contrast, and depth can restrict all performance areas in daily life (self-care, leisure, productive activities) and limit the individual’s mobility skills, negatively affecting social participation.
Why Does Vision Loss Occur?
The low vision group includes individuals whose visual function is limited due to any reason such as congenital, hereditary, accidents, or illness.
What Are the Goals of Low Vision Rehabilitation?
The goal of Low Vision Rehabilitation is to develop the skills to effectively use the remaining vision of the individual. Skills are developed through activities. These activities are unique and personalized for each individual. Young children seek enjoyment and pleasure in movement-based activity training. School-age children’s expectations are oriented toward productivity. To make activity training interesting and ensure active participation in both adults and children, the personality traits of the individuals must be considered.
What Methods Are Used in Low Vision Treatment?
In Low Vision Rehabilitation, occupational therapy approaches should be planned based on the evaluation of visual cognitive functions (visual attention, visual memory, visual discrimination, recognition, matching, sequencing/classification, association).
What Should Be Considered in Low Vision Treatment?
Color contrast, lighting, furniture, the size and distance of objects, and removal of obstacles in the movement area, visual cognitive functions, and the organization of activities are important factors to be considered in the intervention program.
Individuals with low vision have functional levels of vision that they can use. With a well-planned rehabilitation program, the potential of individuals with low vision can be utilized either with assistive technology or without it.