Several Ophthalmic conditions do not lend themselves to medical and surgical improvements owing to the nature of the disease or the limitation of current science. These proverbial “end of the road” conditions may severely affect vision at early ages even as development of other sensory faculties gets affected.
Besides the patients themselves, dealing with this emotionally and physically challenging situation requires motivation from the patient and his or her family members. It also needs a very special skill set that must be learnt, re-learnt, customized and mastered. This is the void that Vision Rehabilitation hopes to fill.
Narayana Nethralaya initiated this department in 2008 under the guidance and leadership of world renowned Vision rehabilitation expert and Inventor Prof. Lea Hyvarinen and Dr Namita Jacob.
In 2010, the department has expanded to include several comprehensive services for the visually impaired or challenged.
What is vision Rehabilitation?
These are services which helps the subject or family to understand and overcome the implications of vision loss through various adaptations and procedures.
Who can benefit from Vision Rehabilitation?
Vision rehabilitation is for all age group persons. Pediatric vision rehabilitation serves children between birth and 15 years with incurable vision loss or functional difficulties due to vision loss.
What are the services available?
Services begins with counseling and progressively encompasses age appropriate management services which need customization and are based on the visual and other sensory needs.
Why vision rehabilitation?
Vision Rehabilitation increases the maximum utilization of residual vision, enhances self-esteem, increases productivity of the subject and strives to make everyone a contributing member of the society.
Sl No.
Services
What is it?
Who can benefit?
Time period
1.
Counselling
One to one session for making the person understand the problem and the suggestions of services to overcome the same
All age group
May last upto an hour. Differs for every person.
2.
Early Intervention
Early therapies to utilize the residual vision and improve development of vision through a set of stimulation and integrative exercises
Children between 0-3 years with (preverbal)
Session based (Each session would last 30-45 minutes)
Functional Vision Assessment
Play way method of assessing residual vision and its utilization for daily activities
Children upto 5 years, pre verbal children and those with sub normal performance.
Session based (Each session would last 30-45 minutes)
3.
Educational Rehabilitation
Training of skills which makes the subject as independent as possible for daily activities
Children above 5 years
Session based (Each session would last 30-45 minutes)
4.
Special skills training
Training of skills which makes the subject as independent as possible for daily activities
Children above 5 years
Session based (Each session would last 30-45 minutes)
5.
Training in use of Low Vision Devices
Training for the most appropriate use of low vision devices in a simulated class room set up.
Children above 5 years
Usually three days. May change based on the performance
6.
Assistive software training
Training in use of the special software (JAWS, magic) for independent computer work
Children above 8 years
Course dependant. Needs customization.
7.
Workshops and training programs
Training programs for children, parents and professionals
Visually challenged persons, professionals working for visually challenged and parents
