LOW VISION

A New Model

A new community-based program is designed to address the shortage of low vision rehabilitation services

as the incidence of conditions like age-related macular degeneration rise along with an aging population, the need for services continues to escalate. Unfortunately, the availability of those services has not kept pace.

LOVRNET, a regional demonstration project, has been created to address that shortfall. An acronym for the Lions Low Vision Rehabilitation Network, LOVRNET is the model for a new community-based healthcare program in the Lions’ Multiple District 22 (which includes Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia). It is being developed in partnership with the Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center of the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute (Lions Vision Center).

According to Robert Massof, Ph.D., who is the director of the center, as well as a professor of ophthalmology and neuroscience at the Wilmer Eye Institute, “In our demonstration project area alone, we currently are serving less than 15% of the demand.”

Training and Outcomes

The specifics of the program include:

Training and consultative support to local optometrists, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic and optometric technicians, occupational and rehabilitation therapists, and social workers so they can offer low vision services in their practices;



A single portal for the low vision rehabilitation system within the district to which ophthalmologists can refer patients or patients can refer themselves;



Matching patients to appropriate trained service providers in their area; and



Continuously improving the effectiveness of services by obtaining patient-reported outcome measures.

Local Lions are a vital part of the project, acting as program advocates with local ophthalmologists and providing them with patient education materials. The Lions are also trained to assist blind and visually impaired people, initiate and facilitate peer support groups, and educate the public.

Funding and Support

The project is supported by a SightFirst grant from the Lions Club International Foundation, as well as grants from Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation and the Helen Keller Foundation.

Adds Dr. Massof: “Low vision device vendors, working through The Vision Council, have created a LOVRNET diagnostic and evaluation kit that contains a variety of basic low vision devices. The kits are loaned to doctors joining LOVRNET, and the products are available on the LOVRNET website.”

“One of the program’s cornerstones,” adds Tim Gels, marketing manager at Eschenbach Optik of America and chairman of The Low Vision Division of The Vision Council, “is the password-protected online store for participating low vision professionals to order products.”

Plans are being developed for expanding LOVRNET nationwide through the 16,000 Lions Clubs in the United States.

—Grace Hewlett

If you practice in DE, MD, or DC and are interested in learning more about participating in LOVRNET, contact Jim Deremeik at jderemeik@jhmi.edu.