Living Fully with Low Vision

Are you hard of seeing?

Are you one of the thousands of people with vision loss as a result of macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, stroke or another cause? Would you like to know how to stay active at home and in your community despite your vision loss? The Henry Ford Center for Vision Rehabilitation & Research is here to help. Our center is dedicated to ensuring that you:

• Continue your daily activities
• Maximize your independence
• Maintain your quality of life

The best for you

The Henry Ford Center is one of the most comprehensive visual rehabilitation programs in the country thanks to our state-of-the-art technology, expert staff and wonderful learning facilities. We offer adaptive computer training, a range of technology and full practice kitchens in both our Grosse Pointe and Livonia centers. Our occupational therapists even provide assessments and training in your home anywhere in the greater metropolitan region.

What to expect

Once you have been diagnosed with low vision and referred to our program, here’s what to expect:

Initial evaluation

• Identifying your priorities: what is important for you to be able to do?
• Mapping your remaining vision is developed, which guides our doctors and therapists to help you.
• Evaluating your distance and reading vision and your contrast sensitivity.
• Assessing of your glasses, calculation of the amount of power you need to accomplish your desired tasks and introduction to the range of optical and non-optical devices that may help you do this.
• Explaining the disease causing your vision loss and what you can do to minimize further risk.
• Addressing the impact of vision loss and its relation to depression and the role of rehabilitation in alleviating this.
• Recommending resources and further assessment and training with our occupational therapy staff, as appropriate.
• Reporting back to your eye doctor on our findings and our plans.

Rehabilitation training

Our expert occupational therapists work with you in the Center and at home to enable you to do the most with your remaining vision. We use your individual goals as a guide. Training may include:

• Reading
• Scotoma training - finding the area of your vision that will allow you to see the best
• Crafts and hobbies
• Cooking and other activities of daily living
• Computer accessibility
• Magnification tools
• Lighting assessment and recommendations
• Contrast enhancement
• Glare control
• Shopping
• Recreational and community activities
• Safe mobility
• Home safety
• Transportation alternatives

Driving

A specialized driving program provides in-office assessment of driving safety. After an initial driving assessment, our low vision optometrist may prescribe bioptic telescopes for appropriate patients.

Research

Research is an important focus at the Henry Ford Center for Vision Rehabilitation & Research. Our studies on depression with vision loss and on the “phantom vision” of Charles Bonnet Syndrome have been presented nationally. We continue to participate in studies that will help enhance the quality of life for those with visual impairments.