R M Christiansen
University of Utah, Department of Opthalmology, Salt Lake City, United States
Historically, low vision services in the United States have been available through large clinics and government agencies. As insurance reimbursement for vision rehabilitation becomes more available to individual practitioners, these services will become more readily offered in private practices of optometrists and ophthalmologists and in university settings. The Vision Rehabilitation Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages the wide-spread development of vision rehabilitation throughout the United States in such private and university practices. Education and support are given to allow these practices to develop. Ancillary personnel such as ophthalmic technicians, low vision therapists, rehabilitation teachers, and occupational therapists will play a very important role as these new practices develop. Nationwide legislation is currently being considered to make vision rehabilitation available to all senior citizens who would benefit. It is hoped that vision rehabilitation for all who are in need will soon be as readily available as orthopedic and cardiac rehabilitation. With the development of these new practices, it will be a natural transition for a person who can no longer be helped medically or surgically to be referred for vision rehabilitation.
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