PURPOSE: To determine the principal etiological diagnoses in low vision patients and to analyze their rehabilitational management. The studies were performed according to age, visual accuracy and the needs of each group. METHODS: The transversal study observed 229 low vision patients for two years and 27 (11.8%) patients were excluded because their vision was better than 20/60. The analysis was carried out according to the following factors: age, sex, reason for seeking help at a subnormal vision centre, diagnosis, visual accuracy for both short- and longsightedness with and without visual aids, types of visual aid prescribed for short- or longsightedness, and whether adaptation of existing visual aids or visual stimulation were recommended. RESULTS: The most prevalent diagnosis in children and young adults was congenital bilateral cataract. For patients aged between 20 and 59 years, the most prevalent diagnosis was retinitis pigmentosa; for those aged sixty years or more the most prevalent diagnosis was glaucoma and macular degeneration related to age. CONCLUSION: For the group of seven to 39 years-old, the most common type of longsighted visual aid was telelupa 2.5' monocular. For the group aged sixty and above, the most common type of shortsighted aids were spherical lenses. Of the 117 patients for whom optical aids for short distances were prescribed , 71.0% achieved vision of up to 1.25M and of the 59 patients for whom optical aids for long distance were prescribed, 56.0% achieved up to 20/60 vision.
Low vision; Low vision; Low vision; Retinitis pigmentosa; Glaucoma; Sensory aids
