Low Vision Aids—Is our service cost effective?

Abstract

SummaryA questionnaire and telephone survey was carried out on a Scottish population of patients with impaired vision, in order to ascertain the proportion of patients who gain benefit from Low Vision. Aids (LVA) and to determine the number of LVAs which are retained but unused. One third of the patients who answered the question naire never use their LVAs, and one half were not satisfied with the service provided.A cost analysis indicated that approximately (£) 8,000 worth of LVAs are neither used nor returned each year to a single LVA service. The patients' ages, diagnoses, and visual acuities were related to the compliance rate. It appears that increasing age and decreasing visual acuity may be factors which decrease compliance. However none of the factors analysed could be used as a reliable predictor of patient satisfac tion or of eventual benefit. Other health services which provide intensive training in the use of LV As reportedly achieve a higher level of compliance. We conclude that our present service could probably be improved by the employment of additional staff specifically trained to teach patients how to make best use of the LVAs provided.

Low Vision Aids: The Effectiveness of Low Vision Rehabilitation

“…McIlwaine et al reported that patients aged <65 years are more likely to use LVAs compared to those aged >65 years, though the difference was not significant. 4 The present findings also indicate that advanced age is a poor prognostic factor for use of LVAs.…”

“…Considerable manual dexterity and motivation are required by patients in order to gain the maximum benefit from LVAs. 4 Low vision rehabilitation is associated with an increase in functional status and improved vision. These positive changes are associated with personal and social benefits, including increased autonomy and enhanced quality of life.…”

“…3 Optical devices have long been used to augment both normal and subnormal vision. 4 Treatment should aim to use vision enhancement to make the best and most comfortable use of whatever vision remains, employing low vision aids (LVAs). Patients must be convinced that using their eyes will not hasten the deterioration of their vision and that visual tasks that cause eye fatigue do not cause permanent damage.…”

How Effective is Low Vision Service Provision? A Systematic Review

“…Early studies tended to judge the outcomes of a service by either evaluating the frequency of use of low vision aids by patients at follow-up of a variable period 103,131,150 or by assessing clinical measures of visual function, such as visual acuity or reading speed. 69,93,100,107 Although clinical outcomes are important, they do not necessarily reflect the abilities that the patients will show in their home environment; for example, a large discrepancy has been demonstrated between individuals with a good near VA in the clinic (75%), and those able to resolve small print at home (39%).…”

Etiological Evaluation of Patients Who Have Low Vision Aid in Our Region

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Tüm bunlar hastanın verilen cihazı kullanma başarısını etkilemektedir. [2][3][4][5][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Yapılan bu çalışmalarda, başvuru esnasındaki görme keskinliği ve hastaların eğitim seviyesi arttıkça uygulanan yardım ve rehabilitasyonun daha başarılı olduğu, merkezi görme alan kaybı ile giden maBölgemizdeki Az Görenlere Yardım Uygulanan Hastaların Etiyolojik Olarak Değerlendirilmesi Ö ÖZ ZE ET T A Am ma aç ç: : Özel Niv Göz Merkezi'ne az görme nedeni ile refere edilen hastaların etiyolojilerini incelemek ve literatür ile karşılaştırmaktır. G Ge er re eç ç v ve e Y Yö ön nt te em ml le er r: : Aralık 2010-Mayıs 2015 tarihleri arasında Özel Nivgöz Merkezi'ne az görme nedeni ile refere edilen 464 hastanın 869 gözü retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi.…”