Hope for the visually blind! Low Vision and Rehabilitation Services

Bhubaneswar: The quote “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness!” is apt for the services provided by the Vision rehabilitation and Low Vision services, for people who have low vision or are clinically blind. These are people whose chance of regaining vision is minimal but have the right to live an independent and meaningful life.

Rehabilitation initiatives for people with Blindness and Low vision

When conventional treatments – medical or surgical fail to prevent or restore vision loss, people often experience visual impairment. Visual impairment is an umbrella term that includes low vision and blindness. Impairment in vision can have immediate and long-term consequences in children and adults, such as lost educational and employment opportunities, lost economic gain for individuals, families and societies which in turn impairs the quality of life.

Comprehensive rehabilitation services range from assessment and prescription of low vision devices (such as magnifiers to help patients with low vision read again) to social, educational, and vocational rehabilitation through training. Training patients with low vision and blindness helps them, reach their highest possible level of functional ability. The key components of intervention includes psychological support to vision loss, Low vision care (assessment, training, & prescription of devices), Special skills training (Independent living skills, Mobility) and Assistive software training to use computers.

Early intervention for children below 5 years of age with developmental problem is needed and it should be based on overall development of the child, which is inclusive of physiotherapy, speech therapy and low vision therapy.

L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar has been rendering yeoman services to people with low vision and blindness to become important contributing members of the society. The centre provides guidance & placement services for economic independence, Self-help meets, peer support programs, advocacy, and support service. The aim is simple “To empower people with incurable vision loss and help them lead an independent and dignified life.”

Disclaimer: This content has been produced on behalf of L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar.