[Aer-div07] Low Vision List-Serve

[Janis Stanger]

I agree that it would be great if AER or ACVREP would be more specific about those areas where low vision evaluations are not available.  In Utah we do have 2 CLVT's who work with ophthalmologists, but the majority of the blind and visually impaired residents of the state do not access these services.  They come to our state agency's low vision services.  As a CLVT at the state agency, I and my co-worker, also a CLVT, see clients who are referred to us by their ophthalmologists or optometrists.  We work with a consulting optometrist who is always available to answer questions via telephone, and who comes into the office two or three days a month to work directly with us.  We use standard low vision assessment tools to measure function (Lighthouse International Near and Distance Visual Acuity Tests and Peli-Robison CF test) in our on site clinics and the Feinbloom Distance Visual Acuity Test for the Partially Sighted and LEA Numbers Test along with the Lighthouse International Near Visual Acuity Test when we are conducting clinics in rural parts of the state.  We've been trained in their use and in how to help our consumers find and use their best remaining vision.  We write reports to all of the doctors about our work with their patients and our consulting optometrist reviews the reports before we send them out.  I know it is not the "perfect model" or even the "preferred model" but in our state in works very well to meet the needs of our widely dispersed rural population.