The Penn Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation is a state-of-the-art facility that implements the skills of ophthalmology and optometry to make the most of vision that cannot be restored further through medical or surgical means.
Each patient who comes to the center receives an in-depth evaluation to determine his or her individual needs. Through special tests, we are able to discover which low-vision aids will be most helpful to help each patient perform specific tasks at a range of distances.
Aids for low-vision patients include the following:
- microscopic lenses
- special magnifiers, such as optical and video
- closed circuit television
- telescopes
Available non-optical aids include:
- large-print reading materials
- writing guides
- text-to-speech readers
- household helpers to assist with daily tasks
Each patient has different needs and goals. Although we cannot cure or even change underlying causes of low vision, we do make every effort to improve each patient’s quality of life by training them to make the most of what vision they do have. This may require follow-up visits for additional training and counseling.
We also refer patients to supplementary services for the visually impaired, such as low-vision and occupational therapy, agencies and resources. Each patient's willingness to learn new ways to see is an important factor.