Page 10 - Envision March-April 2020

Cover Story
By JoAnne Sommers

Ignored

or Underserved?

NeedYOU

LOW VISION

PATIENTS

ABOUT 1.5 MILLION CANADIANS HAVE LOW VISION ISSUES.
ARE YOU IGNORING THEM?

he next time a patient with low practitioner with Innisfil Eye Care in
vision (LV) problems visits your Innisfil, ON.
practice, what will you do?
Tell them you have nothing to “Once the health issues are met, refractive
Toffer besides stronger lenses, or needs can be addressed. Sometimes
respond with alacrity, helping them find higher-power near adds or illuminated
the best possible ways to make their lives hand magnifiers are enough. All
more manageable? optometrists are trained in those steps.”
While many ECPs believe that working When the patient’s needs get beyond
with low vision patients is beyond their the practitioner’s comfort zone, referral
scope of practice, Richard Tapping, chair to a certified LV therapist is the next
of The Vision Council’s Low Vision step. The bottom line, says Tapping, is
Division, says you can easily introduce that any ECP can (and should) offer some
a basic low vision care service to help level of low vision care in their practice,
patients with slight-to-moderate vision
loss (20/70-20/100 or so). especially given the growing number of
people with vision loss who need help.
Many conditions, including macular
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and While many ECPs believe that low vision
glaucoma, can lead to low vision (see work is too time-consuming to be
sidebar), so begin with a comprehensive financially viable, the satisfaction that
eye exam to assess the patient’s refractive, comes from working with LV patients
binocular and ocular health status. makes it worthwhile, says Dr. Angela
This will determine the next steps, says Yoon, optometrist/owner of Scarborough
Dr. Morris Sher, an optometrist and LV Eye Care in Scarborough, ON.

8 / MARCH — APRIL 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /