Low Vision Services

Low vision and community organisations assist clients/patients to make the best use of their available sight to maximise daily function, as well as adjust to vision loss.  It is important that clients/patients seek assistance from low vision and rehabilitation services at early stages of vision loss. This page contains information on how to refer, when to refer and the services offered by low vision and rehabilitation agencies.

Click here to download a copy of the QVI directory of services in Brisbane:
QVI%20Inc_Information_Resource%202009.pdf
or a flyer which details serices provided by Brisbane's low vison clinics.
Low%20Vision%20Services%20Flyer%20Small.pdf

When to refer

Referrals are often recommended when glasses will no longer assist and visual acuity is 6/18 or less, or when a diagnosis is made of a degenerative condition.

Low vision assessments are conducted by eye health professionals, and low vision clinics.  Low vision clinics provide comprehensive vision assessments and involve multidisciplinary teams working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients/patients. 

What do low vision services offer?

Low vision and rehabilitation services help individuals develop new skills to cope with vision loss, and maintain independence.  Such organisations provide information and advice regarding low vision services, orientation and mobility assistance, as well as advice on low vision aids and assistive technology. 

Peer support and community organisations provide activities and local support groups can share experiences and provide emotional support regarding vision loss.

In addition, low vision centres and community organisations can provide health professionals and their clients/patients with extensive information and educational resources regarding eye conditions, vision care and low vision services.

How to refer

Referral procedures and contact details for low vision and community organisations providing services throughout Queensland are outlined below, click on the links to access information regarding the following:

• Low vision clinics and rehabilitation services;

• Clinical and medical services;

• Adaptive technology providers;

• Professional organisations;and

• Peer support and community organisations.

 

 

Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register

Children with low vision impairment require integrated and specialised services including health, education, social work and other support services organisations. To help plan these services accurate details of the causes, number of affected children and their level of vision are needed.

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is undertaking to build, develop and maintain the first Australian-wide childhood vision impairment register. The register will be used by researchers to investigate the cause and prevention of childhood vision impairment. It will also be used by Australian service providers to more accurately plan for the present and future services, which meet the needs of people with vision impairment.
http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/research/ozviskids.asp

Printed material about low vision

Printed material is available from many vision-related organisations and service providers, and many of these resources are available as electronic copies. A selection of printed information (brochures, flyers, fact sheets, booklets etc) available in 2009, is listed in the table below.

Printed Material	Organisation
Low Vision Low vision Low vision tips A low vision guide Family, friends and carers guide Low vision services in Queensland 2005 QVI low vision information resource for health professionals 2009 Rehabilitation services	Optometrists Association Australia Guide Dogs Queensland Macular Degeneration Foundation Macular Degeneration Foundation Optometrists Association Australia QVI Guide Dogs Queensland
Mobility How to safely guide a person who is vision impaired How to help guide a blind person Orientation and mobility Mobility Mobility Accessibility	Guide Dogs Queensland Queensland Blind Association Guide Dogs Queensland Life Tec Queensland Blind Association Vision Australia
Equipment Low vision magnifiers and distance low vision aids Low vision aids Good lighting Vision equipment Computer access Assistive technology Equipment	Vision Australia Macular Degeneration Foundation Optometrists Association Australia Life Tec Life Tec Vision Australia Vision Australia
Driving Driving and vision Drivers with vision problems Vision and Driving	Optometrists Association Australia Orthoptic Association Australia RANZCO
Blindness Living with blindness Braille	Queensland Blind Association Vision Australia
Older People Stroke and your eyes General information on independent living Older Australians and their eyesight Keen vision after 40	Orthoptic Association of Australia Vision Australia Glaucoma Australia Optometrists Association Australia
Children What is VI? What are the educational implications of VI? What support is available?	PLVC* PLVC* PLVC*

The following links will take you directly to the information resources page for each agency, or contact agencies directly to request further details:
Diabetes Australia: http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/Resources/Information-Resources/Brochures--Booklets1/
Glaucoma Australia: 1800 500 880
Guide Dogs Queensland: http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au/page/Education/Guide_Dogs_Queensland_Low_Vision_Tips/ or 1800 810 122
Life Tec: http://www.lifetec.org.au/home/content.asp?pageID=205&main=205&sub=0
Macular Degeneration Foundation: http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/page17334.aspx or 1800 111 709
Optometrists Association of Australia: http://www.optometrists.asn.au/eyesvision
Orthoptic Association of Australia:email oaa@orthoptics.org.au
Paediatric Low Vision Clinic: http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/learning/disability/generalinfo/vision/
Queensland Eye Institute: http://www.qei.org.au/Eye-Disease-pg8865.html
Queensland Blind Association: http://www.qba.asn.au/graphic/framesD.htm
QBA directories: http://www.qba.asn.au/graphic/framesD.htm
Queensland University of Technology: http://www.hlth.qut.edu.au/opt/clinic/
Retina Australia Queensland: 1800 000 999
RACGP: http://www.racgp.org.au/familyhealth/Disturbed_or_impaired_vision_general
RANZCO: http://www.ranzco.edu/aboutus/faq
Vision Australia: http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=740

Many organisations provide educational resources FREE to health professionals.