Subjective Comparison Of Patient Response With And Without A Low Vision Manual

Background: Many low vision patients, who may at one time have been fully functional and independent, struggle to manage and accept their visual disability at an emotional, physical and psychological level. For this reason, maximizing a low vision patient's education in coping with their impairment is a goal for optometrists specializing in low vision rehabilitation.
Methods: Two groups of patients were utilized in this study. One group received normal low vision treatment and counseling (control group), and the other group was given the same experience as the control group with the addition of a take home low vision patient education manual. Results: Both groups were satisfied with the low vision examination and education they received.
Conclusions: No significant differences between the two data sets could be concluded, given the largely positive feedback received from both groups. However, questions asked specifically about the helpfulness of the low vision manual also received primarily positive responses. This would suggest that patients may still benefit from receiving supplement material to take home with them following an appointment for a low vision consultation.