Chapter 13- Introduction to low vision Part 1 (1)

Question 1

When you come across a patient with a visual impairment, what should you do?

Answer 1

Talk to them and find out what is wrong. This is commonly known as history taking.

Question 2

When you come across a patient with a visual impairment, you should find out information to the following questions:

Answer 2

1- What is causing the sight loss?

2- Which eye disease?

3- How long have they had it?

4- What difficulties do they have?

5- What do they want help with?

Question 3

After doing a history taking, what is the next step?

Answer 3

Try and work out what the patient can see.

You would assess what they are able to see at distance and what they are able to see at near.

We do this by using distance visual acuity charts and near visual acuity charts.

Question 4

For distance, you would use what charts?

Answer 4

Snellen or logMAR chart

Question 5

For near, what would you use?

Answer 5

A patient may be asked to read sentences.

Question 6

What should be the main aim for optometrists when treating a patient that has low vision?

Answer 6

To focus on how we can make the journey easier for the patient.

Question 7

To help someone who is visually impaired, consider making something:

Answer 7

1- Bigger
2- Brighter
3- Bolder

You can do all three as well.

Question 8

When it comes to making things bigger for the visually impaired, the patient could:

Answer 8

1- Bring an object closer to them which will make things bigger

2- Use magnifiers

3- Use large print

4- Try adapted equipment, e.g, large, faced clocks and watches

Question 9

When it comes to making things bolder for the visually impaired, the patient could:

Answer 9

1- Try a bold font when using a PC

2- Try white edges on dark steps and dark edges on white steps

Question 10

When it comes to making things brighter for the visually impaired, the patient could:

Answer 10

Use increased light

Question 11

The different types of magnifiers include:

Answer 11

1- Spectacle magnifiers

2- Illuminated handheld magnifiers

3- Non- illuminated handheld magnifiers

4- Illuminated stand magnifiers

5- Non- illuminated stand magnifiers

6- Bar magnifiers

7- Flat field magnifiers

8- Telescopes

Question 12

4DS is equivalent to…

Answer 12

1x magnification

This assumes a working distance is 25 cm.

Question 13

Magnification =

Answer 13

F/4

F= Power

Question 14

The most commonly prescribed devices are…

Answer 14

The illuminated handheld magnifiers.

Question 15

The least commonly prescribed devices are…

Answer 15

Telescopes

Question 16

Where can you get optical low vision aids?

Answer 16

Usually through the Hospital Eye service

Optical aids tend to be free on the NHS.