Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102402

Jeffrey W. Jutai, PhD, CPsych¹, Phillip Hooper, MD², Graham Strong, OD³, and Elizabeth Russell- Minda, MA¹. (1) Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Western Ontario & St. Joseph's Health Care London, Parkwood Hospital, Room H422, 801 Commissioners Road East, London, ON N6C 5J1, Canada, 519-685-4292 ext. 42626, jjutai@uwo.ca, (2) Ivey Eye Institute, University of Western Ontario, 750 Commissioners Rd E., London, ON N6A 4G5, Canada, (3) School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Centre for Sight Enhancement, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

The Vision Rehabilitation Evidence-Based Review Project (VREBR) aims to comprehensively review the best research-related evidence available on low vision rehabilitation interventions and services for the blind and visually impaired. In developing the VREBR, our strategy was to locate the strongest experimental and non-experimental studies that point to the best evidence in the field of low vision and blindness rehabilitation. In order to locate the best evidence, our searches have included not only diagnostic, medically-based low vision research, but also research that points to the rehabilitative aspects of low vision. Vision loss is not dichotomous, but occurs as a continuum ranging from modest low vision to total blindness. Reconciling the results from many international reports is difficult because of complications with the definition of low vision. There are confounding factors that skew demographic descriptions of low vision populations due to rather subtle semantic differences in definitions. The consequences in terms of epidemiological data are fairly predictable. One gets much bigger numbers with some definitions, and different profiles of causes with others. To help make sense of the findings from projects like the VREBR, this paper presents a discussion of controversial issues in the definition of low vision so that readers of the literature might better understand how the various international research studies reflect different views of potentially similar populations, apart from obvious demographic differences in ethnicity and age. The VREBR is funded by the E.A. Baker Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience members will recognize the variations in the definition of low vision that appear in the published literature and be able to discuss their consequences for critical reviews and syntheses of the research evidence for the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation. As a result of this presentation, audience will be able to describe two essential qualities in all definitions of low vision. The first relates to the treatability of the causal disorder. The second is an impact on visual function. They will recognize that there are several possible outcomes associated with deciding whether or not a condition of vision loss is treatable, and several possible interpretations of a decision about whether or not a clinical vision deficit has an impact on functional performance.

Keywords: Vision Care, Research Agenda

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation