+ Larger Type | + Smaller Type
The Low Vision Works program is a seven-to-eight week process. All activities take place in the patient’s home, so there is no need for the patient to worry about arranging travel to another location. Typically, patients receive two one-hour sessions per week.
Because Low Vision Works is a Medicare program, the first visit will be by a Registered Nurse to set up the case.
The retraining process actually starts with the first visit by a Low Vision Works therapist. We use the term “retraining”, because from birth, the eye and the brain are trained to use the macula for detailed vision. In order to use another part of the eye in place of the damaged macula, both the eye and the brain must be retrained.
The first session is devoted to ASSESSMENT. In this session, the following objectives will be met:
- Define Success: a clear set of goals will be set based on the patient’s wishes. These will refer to specific functional capabilities, which are most important to the patient
- Understand the Process & Patient Responsibilities: a thorough review of the process will be conducted and all questions will be answered. Since LOW VISION WORKS is a behavioral change process, it requires commitment, discipline and effort on the part of the patient. These responsibilities are discussed fully
- Establish the Baseline: a battery of metrics will be applied to quantify visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading speed & accuracy and functional efficacy.
In sessions two through 14 to 16, the patient will participate in a carefully designed program to learn eccentric viewing and habituate it. A wide variety of proprietary tools and techniques will be employed to help the patient learn to see in a different and much more effective way. Some of the skills taught will be: PRL location; fixation; gross & fine scanning, pursuits and tracking, reading & writing ergonomics, proper use of lighting and magnification, functional reading & writing (labels, checks, etc.).
Simultaneously, our Low Vision Works therapists will implement home modifications to make the patient’s living environment “low vision friendly”. These modifications will typically address such areas as reading and writing stations, lighting changes, contrast markings, rearrangement of appliances and furniture, computer techniques, closet and wardrobe systems, shopping systems, meal preparation systems and others deemed important by the patient.
At the midpoint and conclusion of the process, the metrics will be applied again. Thus, enabling the patient, physician and therapist to objectively measure progress.
Finally, the therapist will equip the patient with a customized set of recommendations concerning exercises for future development, use of magnification, potential for customized optical devices and use of community resources.
