Novembre 2018 - Polo Nazionale Riabilitazione Visiva

Low Vision Rehabilitation

WHAT IS LOW VISION REHABILITATION?

Low vision is a condition of greatly reduced visual capacity, irreversible and bilateral (it affects both eyes), which conditions and limits the autonomy of an individual, compromising the performance of normal daily tasks. Unfortunately, vision loss cannot be regained; however it is possible to learn how to maximize the use of the retinal zones that are still functioning. This goal can be achieved through vision rehabilitation, which consists of a personalized path that – through an appropriate classification of the visually impaired person – allows the preservation of the residual vision (optimizing its use). In this way, a person can overcome some “disabilities” and maintain or recover their social life, communication and planning abilities, improving their quality of life.

WHEN IS IT NECESSARY?

Vision rehabilitation is a path that should be undertaken by people with low vision regardless of the cause and the age of onset.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

The first step of vision rehabilitation is the classification of the visually impaired person, with particular attention given their requests, needs and psychological difficulties related to their visual impairment. This phase requires the intervention of several professional figures with specialized competences i.e. a psychologist, an ophthalmologist and a rehabilitating orthoptist. The actual rehabilitation period then follows with a series of meetings in which the visually impaired person learns to make the best use of aids, identified to meet their requests (optical, electronic and computer aids). Sometimes home-based hand-eye coordination exercises are also assigned with appropriate checks in subsequent meetings. In the future it will be possible to do exercises from home using a computer equipped with special software.

In some cases it may be necessary to use visual stimulation (biofeedback), which is practiced using an instrument called a microperimeter.

HOW LONG DOES A REHABILITATION SESSION LAST ON AVERAGE?

Visual rehabilitation sessions can require a varied amount of time (but usually a single session doesn’t last for more than an hour) depending on the visual condition of the individual, their requests, age, the characteristics of the aids, etc. In the case of visual stimulation through biofeedback, the sessions last for half an hour on average.

HOW OFTEN IS IT NECESSARY TO GO TO A SPECIALIZED CENTRE?

The frequency of visual rehabilitation sessions is variable. On average 4-5 meetings (1-2 times per week) may be sufficient to learn how to use the optical, electronic and/or computer aids. When necessary visual stimulation techniques may be used, in which case, some cycles of treatment are practiced, (usually 10-15 minute sessions, twice a week), possibly to be repeated over time after a period of observation.

WHAT RESULTS CAN BE OBTAINED?

During visual rehabilitation the still functioning retinal areas are identified and exploited. The objective of a rehabilitative program is to enable the visually impaired person to utilize these areas as much as possible, so as to improve their visual perception and quality of life.

How to book an eye examination for your child

DIAGNOSTIC AND VISION REHABILITATION CENTRE
FOR CHILDREN WITH MULTISENSORY DEFICIT
(CE.DI.RI.VI.)

Appointments are scheduled at the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Hospital in Rome, in cooperation with the National Centre for Vision Rehabilitation of the IAPB Italy. The service is reserved for children affected by multisensory deficits, in particular for infants aged between 0 and 3 years old

Useful phone contact: +39 06 87763115, available from Monday to Friday (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET). It will be requested to the parents to send the documents about their child specifying the pathology and the reason of the examination (e-mail: polonazionale@iapb.it). Later on they will be contacted to schedule an appointment.

Our Centre accepts children from 0 to 3 years old who have eye or brain problems, therefore even associated to other motor and sensorial deficit. The multidisciplinary team include several specialists who take care both of the diagnosis and child’s rehabilitation: ophthalmologist, child neuro-psychiatrist, pediatrician, geneticist, orthoptist and neuro-psychomotility therapist.

Therefore it’s possible to follow a diagnostic, assessment and rehabilitation path.

Our appointments on outpatient base (lunch is available for children who stay until afternoon).

In case of first examination, mostly for families non resident in Rome, an evaluation in more days is foreseen always in day hospital scheme (without overnight stay in the hospital).

In the diagnostic phase all professional figures before mentioned can be present; in the evaluation and the rehabilitation path the following are available: ophthalmologist (if necessary), child neuro-psychiatrist, orthoptist and neuro-psychomotility therapist.

The team is always available to welcome colleagues and teachers who follow children in the territory of residence, both during and after the examinations. When direct contact is not possible, during the examinations (with the consent of parents) some photos and videos of the activities and adviced the materials can be taken.

DIAGNOSTIC AND VISION REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH MULTY-SENSORIAL DEFICIT (CE.DI.RI.VI.) at Polyclinic A. Gemelli, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8 – 00168 Rome, Italy.

How to book an eye examination for an adult

To book an examination at the National Centre for Vision Rehabilitation in Rome simply call the phone no. +39 06 36004929 and select the #2 key. The service is available from Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (CET). Alternatively you can go directly to the National Centre at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital, L.go A. Gemelli 8 – Rome, Italy (building C, second floor). Thanks to the administrative office of the National Centre it is possible to book an eye examination for people experiencing significant visual impairment.

ACCEPTANCE

Upon arrival at the National Centre a secretary will provide you with the necessary documents for the payment of the service that you have booked. With these documents you are required to go to the help desk of the Ophthalmological Department at the same Hospital, which is open from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and can be found on the second floor. In the case of an afternoon appointment, the payment should be made on the third floor (with the same documents). The administrative office of the centre will take documents and open a medical record.