J B Cooke
Victorian College of Optometry, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Melbourne, Australia
The increasing prevalence of vision impairment with an ageing population in the community demands growth of available low vision services. The professional groups providing comprehensive low vision care and support will require improved training at a postgraduate and undergraduate level.
The University of Melbourne now offers a recognised post graduate subject called Rehabilitation of the Partially Sighted. To the end of 2001, 39 optometrists had completed this subject. Post graduate training in low vision was introduced by the Victorian College of Optometry in 1990. Formalising the education program enables the standard of low vision care provided at specialist low vision clinics and in the community to be monitored and improved. The use of web-based and remote education is a potential next step in this area.
An adjunct to the formal program is also offered in the form of low vision workshops and information sharing. The use of technology for the vision impaired is one area in which continued training and education is required.
The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne runs the undergraduate clinical low vision teaching program at a multi-disciplinary care facility. This enables students to be involved with the management of low vision patients and to understand the roles of other health professionals in low vision care.
This paper will present an outline of the educational and training developments for low vision services in Melbourne.
Return to the ISLRR.ORG Home Page
