Making the Most of Remaining Vision



	Making the most of remaining vision The Association for the Blind provides services for people of all ages with a wide range of vision problems. We are able to assist people who are experiencing difficulties with: reading watching television using a computer seeing street signs and traffic lights seeing the whiteboard at school activities like craft and sewing personal care household management shopping or a range of other activities. Low Vision services Our first contact with people who are blind and with vision impaired is often through our Low Vision clinics. Professional staff, including optometrists and orthoptists, provide the following services: optometrical examination, assessment, prescription and provision of optical aids. These sometimes include spectacles but more often magnifiers and telescopic devices demonstration of and training in the effective use of optical aids advice on adapting your lighting to better suit your needs; and advice on techniques to make better use of remaining vision Appointments Usually people are referred to the Association by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. However, a referral is not necessary and an appointment can be made at one of our Low Vision centres by contacting the Association. The initial appointment involves a vision examination, discussion of a person's eye condition and evaluation for visual aids. Sufficient time is allowed to ensure needs are fully discussed and understood. Background information on eye conditions from an ophthalmologist or optometrist is helpful before the first appointment - Association staff can arrange this. Clinic locations Low Vision services are provided at the Association offices in Victoria Park and Kingsley. A Low Vision service also is provided through optometrists in the Fremantle, Albany, Mandurah, Bunbury and Geraldton areas. Please contact our regional offices for details of these services. A limited Low Vision service is provided in Kalgoorlie, Esperance and Narrogin/Katanning through a local optometrist. Replacement ocular prosthesis The Association for the Blind is registered to provide funding for the provision of Replacement Ocular Prosthesis. The funding for this program is provided through the Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) which is administered by the Disability Services Commission. This program covers the supply of replacement ocular prosthesis only - please note that public hospitals provide the first set of ocular prosthesis free to their patients. For further information, contact the Coordinator of the Association's Low Vision Services at our Victoria Park site.

© Copyright 2004. The Association for the Blind of W.A. (Inc.) This page was last modified on Tuesday, 14 September, 2004