The numbers of low vision patients will steadily increase because of increasing longevity. It is important to be aware of those patients so that visual rehabilitation can be started as soon as possible and needed. Before the adjustment of low vision devices a diagnosis should be confirmed in order to check any therapeutic option and to ensure the best individual rehabilitation. If there is no further therapeutic option left a detailed anamnesis of the problems due to low vision should be made to ensure that every patient gets the optical or electronic device he really needs in his everyday life. The first step of the adjustment is to get the best subjective refraction for the far distance and the magnification needed for reading. Thereafter, the testing of different devices can start. It is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of the different devices. Besides the optical devices a counceling of the best light and of edge filters should be made. For the prescription of the devices certain criteria must be performed. That way it is possible to reach the main target namely to improve the quality of life of our low vision patients.
Ist bei einem Patienten eine medizinische Versorgung zur Verbesserung des Sehvermögens nicht mehr möglich, dann sollte baldmöglichst eine optische Versorgung mit Sehhilfen stattfinden. In diesem Beitrag wird die Vorgehensweise der Versorgung sehbehinderter Patienten mit optischen und elektronischen Hilfsmitteln und die Beratung über optimale Beleuchtung und Filterbrillen beschrieben.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.