AOA Low Vision University Receives Support From Kemin Health

The AOA Low Vision Rehabilitation Section is pleased to announce an unrestricted educational grant from Kemin Health for its Low Vision University™ educational program.

The AOA Low Vision Rehabilitation Section is pleased to announce an unrestricted educational grant from Kemin Health for its Low Vision University™ educational program.

The Low Vision University™ instructs doctors on the latest research and low vision rehabilitative practice methods involved in the care of individuals with age-related vision loss. The grant will fully fund the program for 18 months, making it free to state optometric associations.

Kemin Health manufactures FloraGLO Lutein, which is used in many supplement brands. Studies have linked lutein with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataract extraction.

Low vision rehabilitation is a prescriptive treatment modality intended to maximize the use of residual vision and is the only treatment currently available for the majority of people with age-related vision loss.

The Low Vision University™ educational objectives regarding the care process and practice management are integrated into the courses.

The care process involves the following:

• Understand the challenges commonly encountered by visually impaired individuals
  
  
• Identify significant co-morbidities impacting low vision rehabilitation
  
  
• Learn to conduct a functional history to determine the patient’s rehabilitative needs and goals
  
  
• Understand how low vision rehabilitative treatment approaches must be modified based on the type of pathology present
  
  
• Understand how to prescribe appropriate rehabilitative therapies and devices to help the individual with a visual impairment meet their goals
  
  
• Review the advantages and disadvantages of the various optical, non-optical, and video magnification devices available to maximize visual functioning
  
  
• Understand the evaluation of visual acuity and visual field for disability determination by Social Security
  
  
• Understand the use of nutritional supplements for the treatment of age-related eye diseases

The practice management goals include:

• Appreciate the significance of the demographics of visual impairment
  
  
• Understand office management, staffing, scheduling, marketing, and logistics issues pertinent to providing low vision rehabilitation services
  
  
• Understand how to code and document services
  
  
• Understand how to develop a written rehabilitation plan

“We are very excited to be working with Kemin Health to provide educational programs to optometrists throughout the country,” said R. Tracy Williams, O.D., LVRS Chair. “These educational programs will provide optometric practitioners with the latest information concerning the two most beneficial, non-surgical treatment options currently available for age-related vision loss—nutritional supplements and low vision rehabilitation.”