Ophthalmology Commons^™

Best Screening: Introducing The Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid To Nicus In Tennessee, Gabrielle Sledge

OTD Capstone Projects

Blind Early Services Tennessee (BEST) is an early intervention agency that serves children ages 0-5 with visual impairments across Tennessee. BEST serves over 200 children and families across the state offering early intervention (BEST Start), parent empowerment (BEST Advocate), and family support (BEST Together) programming. The purpose of this project was to assist in the implementation of an early identification initiative (BEST Screening) using the Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid (NAVEG). The NAVEG is a newborn vision screening shown to identify neurological risk for visual impairments. The long-term goal of this program is to promote the screening and early identification …

The Effectiveness And Outcomes Of Oculomotor And Visual Field Deficit Rehabilitation Secondary To Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident: A Literature Review, Maanas Chiplunkar

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Visual field loss and oculomotor dysfunctions are two common vision deficits caused by cerebrovascular accidents. Oftentimes these deficits can result in a loss of independence for patients and depression. Neurovisual rehabilitation is a frequently overlooked aspect of stroke rehabilitation, so investigating the current rehab approaches and the factors that play a role in the effectiveness of these methods is crucial so that clinicians can provide more direct and focused treatment for their patients. This literature review research process used PubMed, NCBI, and EbscoHost as primary databases. Preliminary results showed that restitutive and compensatory rehabilitation approaches are effective for treating visual …

Transitional Vocational Program For Persons With Low Vision And Other Visual Impairments, Andria Lubben, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Low Vision is a life-altering visual disability (CDC, 2015). OTs work with individuals with low vision and work in the workplace and education, however, there is no research on OTs working with individuals with low vision in work or post educational settings (Butler, 2016). Vocational and educational needs are often not being met for individuals with low vision (Barbieri et al., 2019).

Problem: OTs have a limited role in adolescent transition to the workplace and higher education in individuals with low vision and other visual impairments.

Purpose: To understand transitional programs that support vocational and educational development of individuals …

Interdisciplinary Practice For Occupational Therapy And Low Vision Rehabilitation, Priscilla Gim, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to advocate occupational therapy in low vision rehabilitation for improved access to low vision rehabilitation (LVR) for the adult population. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, this capstone project shifted to a research study assessing limiting factors for occupational therapy collaboration with low vision services and exploring eye physician’s perception on low vision occupational therapy.

A mixed-methods survey was conducted to explore 54 eye physicians including Doctor of Medicine (MD) specialized in ophthalmology and Doctor of Optometry (OD)’s perception on the role of low vision occupational therapy, benefit of low vision occupational therapy, current …

Access To Eye Care Before And After Vision Loss: A Qualitative Study Investigating Eye Care Among Persons Who Have Become Blind, Tosha Zaback, Stephanie Lam, Joan Randall, Teresa Field, Mitchell V. Brinks

The Qualitative Report

Navigating access to eye care requires that patients recognize the need for screening and care, employ limited financial and social resources, manage complex health insurance policies, and access specialty clinical care. We investigated the experience of patients through the progression of vision loss to blindness, utilizing qualitative methods. We conducted structured telephone interviews with 28 persons with blindness throughout Oregon. Utilizing closed and open-ended questions, we explored patient experience on the events preceding avoidable blindness. Coding for emergent themes was conducted independently by two researchers using a constant comparative method. Participants described important barriers to accessing eye care: at the …

When The Challenges Of Aging And Visual Impairment Collide: Working Together To Build A Toolbox Of Rehab Ideas Of Best Care For Older Adults, Regula H. Robnett, Kathy Clarrage

Occupational Therapy Faculty Presentations

Workshop/presentation by Regi Robnett, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, professor in the UNE Department of Occupational Therapy and Kathy Clarrage, COMS, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the State of Maine. Given at the North East Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NEAER) conference, this presentation encouraged health care providers to work as a team to care for older, visually impaired adults. The professional audience included orientation and mobility specialists, vision rehabilitation therapists, low vision specialists, administrators in the field of blindness, social workers in the field of blindness and vocational rehabilitation counselors.