Low vision is an intermediate situation between normal vision and blindness, where even with medical or surgical treatment and resort to glasses / contact lenses, visual acuity is lower than 30% or the visual field restriction lower than 10º. Maximizing the still existing visual capacity and offering tools to deal with the difficulties in daily life are the goals of the Ophthalmology – Low Vision / Hypo-vision Consultation, available at Hospital da Luz Clínica de Odivelas and ensured by ophthalmologist Ana C. Almeida. “The main causes of vision loss or vision reduction are associated with the increase in life expectancy and the consequent population ageing. Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy are responsible for the majority of cases of low vision and blindness”, explains Ana C. Almeida. “Rehabilitation is essential for these people”, she stresses. The Ophthalmology – Low Vision / Hypo-vision Consultation: Is the starting point for rehabilitation. It assesses the visual difficulties and the repercussions in daily life, aiming to provide higher autonomy and better quality of life. It tries to maximize the existing residual vision, targeting the visual goals of each patient. In that sense, an objective evaluation of the ocular health is performed, and afterwards there is a period of adaptation and training with visual aids (such as magnifying glasses, telescopes, filters and electronic devices) to help overcome the experienced difficulties. Whenever necessary, it works autonomy concerning orientation / mobility (for instance, crossing the street / road, detecting leads and reference points, dealing with traffic, asking for assistance, navigating in public spaces) and how to perform other daily life activities (such as self-care, house chores and cooking). It is also destined to children affected with low vision (a less prevalent clinical situation, but with high impact on the quality of life of the child and family), that must be encouraged to acquire visual competences as early as possible, so as to maximize their remaining visual potential. Assessment is made of the child’s visual difficulties and, mostly, of its repercussion in daily life and in the child’s overall development, offering strategies of support, coordination with school and resources to overcome the barriers of visual deficit and promote independence in adult life. Intervention in this consultation is individualized and adapted to each patient’s needs, ensuring that every person receives the necessary support in order to maximize residual vision and promote independence and autonomy. Low vision does not have to mean total loss of autonomy. Schedule your appointment at hospitaldaluz.pt/en or on MY LUZ. Above, in the photo, the team from Hospital da Luz Clínica de Odivelas: Paula Mendes Ribeiro (psychomotrician), Rita Vaz (orthoptist), Ana Almeida (ophthalmologist) and Cátia Casanova Martins (psychologist).
