Oklahoma City VA Health Care System

Low Vision Clinic

Program:

It is our goal to provide you with a high quality of care that will help you with your ongoing adjustment to vision loss.  Through the process of rehabilitation and education, the Low Vision treatment team and staff are committed to helping you and your families return to activities you enjoyed prior to the onset of your visual impairment.

Rehabilitation:

Rehabilitation is the key to preventing visual impairment from becoming an unnecessarily disabling condition.  Training with optical and non optical aids, issued through the Prosthetics Service here at the Oklahoma City VAHCS, can help you as a visually impaired veteran to overcome most of your difficulties related to vision loss. 

This includes:

·         reading newsprint

·         writing

·         home management

·         daily personal care

·         traveling safely in your home and community

·         participating in leisure time activities using a personal computer (trained staff are available to address special needs)

·         cooking

Eligibility:

In order to receive Low Vision services, you simply must be eligible as a veteran for VA Health care and be considered either visually impaired or legally blind.  An eye exam by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist is required to determine your eligibility.

Low Vision Defined:

Vision loss that cannot be corrected by ordinary glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery is called “Low Vision.” Signs of low vision include:

·         difficulty recognizing a familiar face

·         difficulty reading – print appears broken or distorted

·         difficulty seeing objects and potential obstacles such as steps, curbs, walls and furniture

People with low vision retain some usable vision.  Ophthalmologists and optometrists specializing in low vision care can evaluate patients and prescribe optical devices to maximize remaining vision.