Challenges Faced by Patients with Low Vision during COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose: Low vision patients have difficulties maintaining and keeping social distancing guidelines in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study examines COVID-19 and social distancing: Challenges faced by patients with low vision. The study objective is to identify the contribution of Covid-19 to the challenges faced by patients with low vision who visited the hospital. 35 low vision patients participated in the study. Method: A self-administrated, cross-sectional survey in English was distributed using Google forms through various professional bodies across patients with low vision visiting the hospital. The questionnaire was also presented to the patients via telephonic conversation. The study objective is to identify the contribution of Covid-19 to the challenges faced by patients with low vision visited to the hospital and examine how social distancing measure has increased the challenges faced by patients with low vision. The questionnaire will contain closed-ended questions. Result: Questionnaires were distributed to patients with low vision attending the hospital 35 responses were obtained through the questionnaire. Among the participants, 22 were males, and 19 were females. Patients who participated in the study were between 10 to 70 years of age. Social distancing increases the challenges faced by people with low vision. People with low vision had restrictive movement due to problems in maintaining social distancing and travelling outside. Challenges for low vision people depend upon the level of their sight loss; blind people rely on canes and a human guide. An individual with low vision can use their visual clues by identifying the shape and size of the object and their other senses to identify the object. Conclusion: Coronavirus pandemic is a worldwide challenge that has spread across all sectors, including human. It applies to all industries. In no doubt, COVID-19 contributes to the faced by patients with low vision and the social distancing measures, which is one of the best ways of reducing the further spread of the disease across the globe. Key words: COVID-19, Challenges, Optometrist, Low Vision, Social Distancing.