focus on low vision

Summit Addresses Action Steps

by Stephanie K. De Long

As reported last month, the recent Vision Summit on low vision brought together ophthalmologists, opticians, optometrists, researchers, patients, and policy experts for a day-and-a-half of brainstorming sessions and expert presentations.

The stated—and well-achieved—goal was to examine the latest data, best practices for treatment, and the effectiveness of different economic models of low vision care.

This second annual Vision Summit was sponsored by The Better Vision Institute, an advisory board to The Vision Council. Last year's topic was Children's Vision.

Why was low vision the topic of the 2008 meeting? The reason is simple, explains Paul Michelson, MD, an ophthalmologist and member of the Better Vision Institute. "Because we expect a dramatic increase in the number of people who suffer from low vision due to the aging baby boomer generation, it is vital that the vision care community begin to evaluate and expand the current state of care."

The Summit, he concluded, was "meant to create an ongoing collaboration among experts to advance the treatment and care of people with low vision."

COMMON THREADS

Following presentations and roundtables featuring a variety of experts in the low vision arena, attendees gathered in breakout sessions to compile and then discuss a list of key challenges, goals, and action steps.

Here, as agreed upon by the leading experts in attendance, are 10 key points regarding the ongoing growth, delivery, and development of low vision services.

1 PATIENT EDUCATION. Outreach to patients on the tools, aids, services, and support available will convey a new sense of hope for those needing our help and expertise.

2 ECP EDUCATION. We must reach eyecare professionals early in their careers and build interest and commitment to low vision care from the beginning—that is, while they are still in school.

3 PRIVATE PRACTICE. For now, the viability of low vision-exclusive private practices is challenging. Until there is increased recognition across the national system of the importance of low vision care, it will be difficult for many such practices to succeed.

4 PLATFORM. There are many models for low vision care. While all may be worthwhile, we must work as a community toward a common, simple platform for low vision care—one which taps into the many resources and services available across our system.

5 STANDARDS. As a community, we should agree on key definitions, criteria, and standards for things such as referrals and rehabilitative care delivery.

6 CHALLENGES. One of the biggest challenges is to get services to those people and communities who need it most. To do so, we must be creative.

7 REIMBURSEMENT. Insurance reimbursement for low vision is a challenge we must take on. Low income, underinsured patients need aids, devices, and support.

8 PARTNERING. Members of an expanded community including the media and manufacturers are candidates for partnering to build commitment to low vision care.

9 COMMUNITY CONCEPT. We must work as a total vision care community to promote and achieve the necessary policy and legislative changes to foster low vision care.

10 COLLECTIVE ACTION. Everything we need to do will take collective action and funding. Attendees agreed that this final point raised more questions than answers. How are we going to mobilize our efforts? Where will we get the resources to have the impact to meet the nation's low vision care needs?

Those are just a few of the critical issues that will need to be addressed in coming months and years. EB