Vision Impairment and Blindness
The VA provides
rehabilitation programs targeting low vision and blind veterans, and is
also aggressively pursuing innovative service delivery models. The
challenge of helping these low vision and blind veterans has greatly
increased, and the Department of Veterans Affairs has made a commitment
to provide world-class rehabilitation training by enhancing services,
improving access to care and increasing patient satisfaction for
veterans with visual impairments.
The current estimated
number of legally blind veterans in the
United States is
more than 160,000 (De l’Aune, 2002). Currently, over 35,000 veterans
have enrolled for VA care. This number is expected to grow in the coming
years as a result of aging of the veteran population, because the most
prevalent causes of legal blindness are age-related.
Blindness is
considered one of the most devastating disabilities that can
affect an individual, striking people of all ages and walks of
life. The term legal blindness is, however, a deceiving
one. The generally accepted definition of legal blindness is
either central visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye
with the use of corrective glasses; or, central visual acuity
better than 20/200 in the better eye with visual field deficits in
which the widest diameter of peripheral fields is 20 degrees or
less. The definition of low vision used to generate estimates of
veterans with low vision is central visual acuity equal to or less
than 20/70 but greater than 20/200 in the better seeing eye with
the use of corrective glasses.
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In the
United States the
number of veterans diagnosed with low vision (those individuals who have
a significant, uncorrectable visual impairment from 20/70 to 20/190, but
who are not legally blind) is currently estimated to be more than one
million veterans (De l’Aune, 2002). The most common causes of low vision
are age-related as well.
The impact of blindness is
very individualized and includes a wide range of eye conditions, from
the older veteran whose vision gradually worsens due to macular
degeneration or some other age-related eye problems, to the
serviceperson who is totally blind from traumatic injury. Veterans who
must cope with a significant loss of vision require individualized,
specialized care and treatment suited to their specific cause of
blindness. Physical and medical condition, age, ability to cope with
frustrating situations, learning ability, and the overall needs and
lifestyle of the veteran are important considerations.
A person confronted with
blindness may feel limited and frustrated in performing everyday
activities previously taken for granted. Tasks such as dressing, eating,
writing, reading, and traveling may become difficult to perform
independently. Communication with other people by ordinary means is
often hampered, as is the ability to keep up with the daily news and
current events. Social interaction, recreation, and hobbies may also be
limited or curtailed as a result of vision impairment.
Frequently a person may be
forced into premature retirement because of vision loss, often resulting
in loss of income and financial security. As a result of the numerous
negative outcomes, it is not uncommon for the newly blinded individual
to undergo a period of personal stress. Individuals facing blindness and
vision impairment may lose self-esteem, or believe the future holds
little promise. Spouses, families, and loved ones may experience
pressure, strain or uncertainty.
Loss of sight affects each
person differently and may hinder overall functioning, including
employment, recreation, communication, and social, and family life. To
help the veteran cope with these problems the Department of Veterans
Affairs established the Blind Rehabilitation Service to provide a wide
variety of rehabilitation programs and services to veterans who are
blind. The rehabilitation program is designed to improve quality of life
for veterans who are blind or severely visually impaired through the
development and enhancement of skills and capabilities needed for
personal independence, adjustment, and successful reintegration into the
community and family environment. Elements of the blind rehabilitation
program include: 10
Blind
Rehabilitation
Centers , Visual
Impairment Services Teams (VIST) and VIST Coordinators located at many
VA Medical Centers and VA Outpatient Clinics, Blind Rehabilitation
Outpatient Specialist (BROS), National Consultants, and a Computer
Access Training (CAT) Program. In addition, there are a variety of low
vision services and blind rehabilitation programs within the Department
of Veterans Affairs system including: Visual Impairment Services
Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) programs and Visual Impairment Centers
to Optimize Remaining Sight (VICTORS) programs.
The VA Blind Rehabilitation
Service is committed to a continuum of care model that extends from the
veteran’s home environment to the local VA care site and
regionally-based inpatient training programs encompassing an array of
alternative rehabilitative services. The following will describe in
detail the programs offered in Blind Rehabilitation Service, as well as
low vision services available at local VA Medical Centers and Outpatient
Clinics |
