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Virtual Reality Applications in the Context of Low-Vision Rehabilitation
Published in Christopher M. Hayre, Dave J. Muller, Marcia J. Scherer, Virtual Reality in Health and Rehabilitation, 2020
Marie-Céline Lorenzini, Walter Wittich
Low-vision rehabilitation represents the primary intervention for individuals with chronic, disabling visual impairment (Markowitz, 2006). The goal is to improve activities of daily living of individuals with reduced visual function by optimizing the use of their remaining sight through the provision of appropriate refractive correction, training in the use of vision assistive equipment and compensatory strategies (Binns et al., 2012). The vision rehabilitation process typically includes the prescription of assistive devices and the provision of training in the use of low-vision aids.
Smartphone usage among people living with severe visual impairment and blindness
Published in Assistive Technology, 2022
Carl Halladay Abraham, Bert Boadi-Kusi, Enyam Komla Amewuho Morny, Prince Agyekum
The issues of societal integration and social equity for people living with visual impairment have become a global concern (WHO, 2011; Wiafe, 2015). This is also echoed in the sustainable development goal ten (10) that aims to reduce inequalities (WHO, 2020). One major solution has been the advocacy for the inclusion of vision rehabilitation in primary health-care systems across the world. Vision rehabilitation improves independence and productivity in individuals with visual impairment by maximizing the use of their residual vision. It has been shown to be effective and significantly improve the quality of life of persons that benefit from it (Ovenseri-Ogbomo et al., 2016; Stelmack, 2001). Vision aids and assistive devices or assistive technology devices are major tools used in the rehabilitation centers. Assistive technology devices or assistive devices refer to any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities by enhancing an individual’s independence in performing any activity of daily living or instrumental activity of daily living (Act, 1998). These devices include magnifiers, telescopes, bioptics, electronic vision enhancement systems (EVES), and navigating systems (Jutai et al., 2009). There is a high demand for assistive devices globally with estimated 1 billion persons with disability needing one or more assistive devices to enhance their livelihood(Mclnnes et al., 1994; Tebbutt et al., 2016). However, there is limited access to such assistive devices. Only one (1) in ten (10) persons living with visual impairment globally has access to such devices. Ghana is a low resourced country and the availability and access to assistive devices is low (Pei-Chia Chiang, 2009) despite the numerous interventions made by the Ghana Health Service and World Health Organization (Tangcharoensathien et al., 2018; WHO, 2015)