Page 11 - Envision-01-2022

Cover Story

L O W V ISION

with an acuity of 20/50—is being told that nothing can Says Dr. Ana Juricic, optometrist and owner of the
be done to help them. Low Vision Clinic in Toronto, “It’s an added service
that ECPs could be providing to their patients.” And
Fortunately, exciting technological developments, such it’s an easy transition for optometrists because they’re
as those mentioned above, are helping to spotlight already familiar with low vision rehabilitation (LVR)
low vision care. And the increased demand for LVR from their training. “It’s building on what they already
(low vision rehabilitation) services—partly a result of
the aging population—is creating new opportunities know and involves bringing in various vision aids to
show patients how to use them.”
for eyecare professionals (ECPs) interested in this
burgeoning field. Only a handful of ECPs in Canada currently specialize

“Low vision care is the perfect complement to medical in low vision, which means that LVR services lag
treatment being used to treat AMD and other eye behind demographic changes. The scarcity of LVR
diseases causing vision loss and completes the specialists means that Dr. Juricic has had patients come
treatment plan so patients can achieve their visual to see her from as far away as New Brunswick. With
goals and have a sense of independence,” says Timothy the recent COVID-19 lockdowns and for those who
Gels, director of Marketing with Eschenbach Optik of have difficulty travelling, she has conducted virtual
America, Inc. “We need more ECPs doing low vision assessments with the help of a diagnostic kit
work and greater awareness of who is doing it so more (iDoctor) and a low-vision products kit (iProduct),
patients can be helped.” which Eschenbach sends to the patient’s home.

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