Low Vision

What is Low vision?

Low vision is a condition characterised by level of vision that is 20/70 or worse and that cannot be fully corrected with medical treatment, surgery, or conventional glasses.  Unlike total blindness, most individuals with low vision have some useful sight. But, as vision deteriorates, those affected often find it difficult to accomplish the tasks of everyday life such as reading, recognizing faces, cooking, driving, and differentiating color. In most cases, the low vision makes patient unable to live a normal and independent life.

Children and adults can have low vision at any stage in life.  Most people develop low vision as a result of eye conditions and diseases, including congenital eye diseases, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, and trauma.  Some causes of low vision, such as cataracts, are treatable and good vision can be restored.  When diagnosed early, other conditions that lead to low vision, such as wet macular degeneration and glaucoma, can be halted or slowed - although vision lost is irreversible. 

Low vision centre at AL-SHIFA TRUST EYE HOSPITAL:

A low vision center was established in Alshifa trust eye hospital in 1993 which has now become a strong and most efficient low vision service provider  not only for the twin cities but also for the whole country.
Each month, hundreds of patient with low vision visit low vision clinic and get benefit in the form of an independent life.

Mehreen tanveer (Light House Manager)
Anum Akhter (Incharge Low Vision)

Paramedic Staff:
Zubair Khalid (Refractionist)
Afshan iqbal (Nursing Assistant)
Aleena Anjum (Ophthalmic Technician)

Our services:

Low vision aids available in low vision clinic:

Almost all types of low vision aids (both for distance and near work) are available in low vision clinic including magnifiers of all types(hand held, foldable, stand, illuminated) and telescopes(monocular ,binoculars, spectacle mounted.

These aids are provided to patients at very low and affordable cost.About 250-300 devices are being dispensed to the patients every year. Some devices are also manufactured in Alshifa low vision workshop.

Light house:

“Light house , a strong voice for visually impaired people for their full inclusion into the mainstream society”
Low vision clinic works in collaboration with Light house (first and only light house in Pakistan). Light house provides support and training opportunities to blind persons and dedicated to helping people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Light house is equipped with advance and latest electronic gadgets.   Senior and junior corners have been set up separately for adults and pediatric patients respectively.

Benefits
People having following problems can get benefit from low vision and light house services.

• Difficulty in reading
• Problems in writing
• Inability to recognize familiar faces
• Problem in performing daily routine tasks like eating, cooking, recreation, etc

Electronic gadgets:
Following advanced electronic gadget are available

CCTV:

MAGIC:
No doubt, a magical software for visually impaired computer users

Topaz :
Video magnifier can magnify up to 16xHelps in reading and viewing documents

Opal:
Portable video magnifier. Patient can carry it ,where he wants

Many other softwares, i.e JAWS,DRAGON are also available

Counseling:
Counselling helps  people to get understanding of their visual condition, abilities, Disabilities, Rehabilitation and low vision services.

Guidance for appropriate education:

• Selection of appropriate courses
• Learning medium ( Normal print with magnifier, large print, Recorded cassette and Braille)
• Type of suitable education ( Normal Education and special education)
• Importance and methods of using low vision aids
• Accessing educational concessions and facilities offered by government
• Needed environmental modifications in normal class rooms
• Recommendation to the heads of schools for handling low vision children

Orientation and mobility training:

People who have visual impairment are trained to move independently both indoors and outdoors with a sighted guide and cane.

Daily household task training to patients:

Patients who are unable to do daily tasks like cooking, sewing,   cleaning  ,washing etc are trained how to cope with these

Self grooming:

Self grooming corner is also available which help Visually impaired people get guidance in personal skills like matching of colour clothes, putting on make up, shaving, bathing etc.

Inspirational story:

Saddam khan, a 23 year old boy was feeling hopeless when he came to low vision clinic at Al-Shifa trust eye hospital. He was suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. He was severely handicapped and unable to study because of highly impaired vision. Low vision assessment and management was done and he was provided with telescope and magnifier. The Low vision aids benefitted him so much that he is studying in college now. According to the patient himself, “I have seen a world, I never saw before.”