HANDS ON - Low Vision
Vision 2005...Addressing a growing need
by Stephanie K. De Long

More than 1,200 delegates—low vision experts and professionals—came from 69 countries to attend Vision 2005 in London last month.

This tri-annual event looks at vision loss from a global perspective and addresses every aspect of sight loss, as well as ways of helping people cope with it.

	Among the keynote speakers was Johanna Seddon, MD, an associate professor at Harvard, who discussed advances in the prevention of AMD

This year's conference was hosted by the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), a leading U.K.-based charity. It was co-hosted by two other U.K. groups—Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Action for Blind People.

Speakers came from a total of 55 different countries. Among the Americans presenting research findings were Ann Corn from Vanderbilt University, Dr. Donald Fletcher from the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, Eleanor Faye from Lighthouse International, Dr. Stanley Woo from the University of Houston, and Eli Peli from Schipens Eye Research Institute.

Here is sampling of the information shared at the event.

TRAINING: "Only nine percent of blind and partially sighted people are offered training to help them with daily living skills." Source: Action for Blind People, London.

AWARENESS: In the U.K., only about 14 percent of people have heard of AMD (age-related macular degeneration), as opposed to 46 percent in the U.S. Source: Survey of 11,000 people in 11 countries published in December 2004 by the AMD Alliance U.K.

EMPLOYERS: More than nine out of 10 employers surveyed say it would be "difficult or impossible" to employ someone with a sight problem. Source: "Beyond the Stereo-types" report.

EMPLOYMENT: In the U.K., three out of four working-age vision impaired people remain unemployed. Source: Action for Blind People.

TRAINING: In an RNIB program, unemployed blind and partially sighted people with previous work experience were retrained. Since the program launch in 2001, 70 percent of trainees have obtained permanent employment. Source: RNIB.

READING: According to the RNIB, "A staggering 96 percent of books are never published in formats that people with sight problems can read, like large print, audio or Braille." Source: The "Written Off" report.

DRIVING: A thousand people who failed the driving license vision test were surveyed regarding their plans to schedule an eye exam. One in 10 said they wouldn't bother, and nearly seven out of 10 said they were surprised they hadn't passed. Source: "Turning a Blind Eye to Health Care" study, conducted by Warwick University.

TECHNOLOGY: A survey of assistive technology user needs identified a wish list of devices, including: A universal barcode-based labeling system to help recognizing the contents of food containers and matching clothes; a voice-activated washing machine; and a universal remote for all appliances. Source: Michael Wright, Building Research Establishment, Ltd. in the U.K.

BLINDNESS: Only four percent of visually impaired people see nothing. The remaining 96 percent have some remaining vision. Source: Action for Blind People.

LIGHTING: In a study of patients who purchased devices, it was determined that CCTV users working under ceiling lighting with no additional task lighting experience a decrease in contrast sensitivity of 2 to 5 percent. Source: Bhati Vidyapeeth School of Optometry, Pune, India.