The Maze of Care for Low Vision: Practitioner and Patient

Abstract

As an independent practitioner working with individuals with vision loss, one of the authors has had many collegial opportunities and many collegial disappointments. The road to independent practice in the field of vision loss was not a direct route but a maze of wrong turns, dead ends, and ultimately success in finding a path. This can also often be the case for the patients. They too often find a maze of wrong turns and detours en route to low-vision solution specialists and maximization of their remaining vision. Home care and community-based providers need to be aware of this important specialty that patients will be provided with the best quality care outcomes possible. This article provides an overview of the process for identification of low-vision rehabilitation candidates and treatment and service delivery in the field of low-vision solutions.