The low vision (LV) clinic at Greenlane Clinical Centre has recently welcomed two new optometrists to its team. Deepa Kumar and Deborah Chan, have joined Sandy Grant, LV clinic coordinator and therapist, to provide a multi-disciplinary low vision service to patients referred by eye health specialists, general practitioners, the Blind Foundation and other ADHB departments.
The most common referrals are for patients with macular degeneration (MD) and glaucoma, although the clinic will accept anyone with functional vision issues, said Grant.
Patients seen at early stages of MD often identify reading, handwriting and glare issues as their main difficulties, while patients with glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, hemianopias or monocular vision may experience mobility and reading issues. Other visual concerns highlighted in the assessment are also addressed through LV strategies such as eccentric viewing, low vision aids, both optical and non-optical (eg. magnifiers, task lamps, signature guides), basic training with aids or sighted-guide, information, peer support or referrals, such as Blind Foundation membership.
Early intervention often alleviates many patients and helps the patient develop coping mechanisms, said Grant.
The low vision clinic runs Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and on average about four patients per clinic are seen. Wednesday afternoons is a therapist-only clinic, though Grant said she hopes to add another full-service clinic in the near future.
