Analysis of low vision.

INTRODUCTION: Health care roles of the ophthalmologist and optometrist have been enlarged because of changing attitudes towards blind and visually impaired persons. There are about 45 million visually handicapped people in India. At least 30 millions of them are not totally blind, but partially sighted. Their conditions are neither curable medically nor correctable optically by conventional spectacles, contact lenses, etc. These people find it difficult to carry out their routine work. Low vision aids are useful to a significant number of these people. In low vision care, no single profession can provide all aspects of treatment. The ophthalmologist, the optometrist, the rehabilitation and orientations and mobility instructor, the counselor and the educator all add parts to the whole form which the patient must select what is most helpful. The number of people who are using low vision aids in this country is quite negligible, perhaps for want of technical know-how, availability of visual aids. AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze 50 cases of low vision patients attending a tertiary government hospital and their acceptance of low visual aids. To identify the common ocular conditions leading to low vision and to know the visual aids which the patient accept. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective analysis done in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology during the period of January 2005 to December 2005. Fifty patients with low vision who attended the low vision clinic were examined for low visual aids acceptance and improvement of acuity, fields or ability to carry out their daily activities. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were studied for low vision analysis. Males comprised of 72% (36) and female 28% (14). The age distribution showed that maximum number of patient were in the 51-60 years age group 22% (11), 4% (2) were below 10 years and 8% (4) above 60 years. Patients in 10- 20 age groups and 40-50 age groups comprised 20% each. DISCUSSION: The study showed that most of patients who came to low vision service were provided with low visual aids which indicates the effectiveness of low vision aids in visual rehabilitation of visually handicapped. CONCLUSION: The study shows that Low visual aids can be prescribed in various ocular diseases, occupation, and age groups according to the patients need. This study shows the need to establish low vision clinics in government hospitals. This also helps to gather necessary information regarding low vision services