Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation

Question 1

Define the terms ‘visual impairment’ and ‘severe visual impairment’?

Answer 1

Visual Impairment: a person who is substantially and permanently handicapped by defective vision caused by a congenital defect, illness or injury’. Previously called partially sighted.

Severe Visual Impairment: a person that who is so blind that they cannot perform work for which sight is essential. Aka what is considered blind, these people can register blind in order to receive certain disability benefits.

Question 2

List the causes of visual impairment in children?

Answer 2

Congenital cataracts
Optic atrophy
Albinism
Buphthalmos (enlarged eyes, a precursor to glaucoma)
Myopia
Retinopathy of prematurity

Question 3

List the causes of visual impairment in adults and the elderly?

Answer 3

Diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy
Myopia
Uveitis
Corneal dystrophies
Retinitis pigmentosa
Macular degeneration (more common in elderly)
Glaucoma (visual deterioration more common in elderly)
Inoperable cataracts (more common in elderly)

Question 4

Describe the process of managing a patient with a visual impairment generally?

Answer 4

Establish diagnosis.
Educate patient re diagnosis.
Assess practical needs of patient and try to accommodate them as best possible e.g. provide magnifying glasses etc.

Snellen chart unaided
Retinoscopy
Near vision assessment
Unit Magnification assessment (assess magnification needed to achieve normal near vision acuity.)