A holistic model of low vision care for improving vision‐related quality of life

Abstract

Vision impairment can have a significant impact on the wellbeing and quality of life of an individual. Vision rehabilitation has the potential to improve these areas; however, four in five patients with vision impairment are not being referred to the appropriate services. Barriers to on‐referral include, but are not limited to: (1) misunderstandings by both practitioners and patients alike regarding which individuals with vision impairment might benefit or qualify for low vision services; (2) lack of awareness of available services; (3) unfamiliarity with practice guidelines; (4) miscommunication between practitioners and patients; (5) required patient travel or limitations in access; and (6) the perceived costs of goods and services. Further, current referral patterns do not represent a holistic patient‐centric approach. Vision‐related quality of life questionnaires are tools which can assist health professionals in providing optimal individualised care. This review explores current evidence regarding low vision service delivery within Australia and globally, the impact of vision impairment on activities of daily living, the instruments used for the assessment of vision‐related quality of life (VRQOL), competing priorities of individual needs in low vision services and rehabilitation, and provides recommendations for a more patient‐centred model of care.

Key words:

• low vision
• questionnaires
• vision function
• vision impairment

Supporting information

Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher’s website:

Table S1. Current conventional optometric assessment (visual acuity) used for identifying low vision and expected population norms.

Table S2. Current conventional optometric assessment (perimetry) used for identifying low vision and expected population norms.

Table S3. Additional proposed vision function assessments for a holistic patient‐centric approach to low vision management and expected population norms.

Table S4. Additional proposed vision function assessments (stereoacuity) for a holistic patient‐centric approach to low vision management and expected population norms. Table S5. Additional proposed vision function assessments (colour vision) for a holistic patient‐centric approach to low vision management and expected population norms adapted from the National Research Council (US) Committee on Vision.

Additional information

Funding

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT