Low-vision rehabilitation therapy helps with age-related macular degeneration
Occupational therapy teaches sufferers to use peripheral vision to improve quality of life, says UCI Health expert
IN THE NEWS: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) impacts the central vision in one or both eyes while peripheral vision ― what can be seen above, below and to the side without turning the head― remains intact.
Nilima Tanna, a low-vision occupational therapist with the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, spoke with WebMD about low-vision rehabilitation therapy and how it can people maintain their independence while living with AMD.
“Most of the people who have AMD complain about not being able to see faces, watching TV, and reading for information or pleasure (including on computers and phones). Learning to see with your side vision teaches you to use the vision you have left to get better at doing these things.”
Tanna also discussed the types of therapy she provides to patients with AMD in both eyes.
“We teach patients about which position of the eye gives them the blurriest view and how to move that blurry part out of the way. This helps them to develop ’sweet spot’ for each activity, where they can see a little better by not moving their head and keeping their eyes steady.”
Lastly, she spoke about how low-vision rehabilitation therapy can improve overall quality of life.
“Therapy really does positively impact people's quality of life. They have a better understanding of why they don't see well and they learn what they can do about it. That’s why educating them about their blind or blurry spots is critical.”
Tanna is an occupational therapist who specializes in low-vision rehabilitation. She works with patients whose vision cannot be improved with glasses, contact lenses or other standard treatments, such as medicine or surgery.
Rehabilitation is individualized to the patient’s needs and interests, such as reading, writing or participating in hobbies.
Make an appointment at the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute by calling 949-824-2020.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves nearly 5.7 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).