Focusing on low vision

Author: Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MCOptom, Clinical Adviser 
Date: 7 June 2017

The second 2017 issue of Optometry in Practice has just been published and this special themed issue delivers a comprehensive compendium of articles all relevant to low vision. Designed as a ‘low vision’ consulting room reference for practitioners of all levels of experience in vision rehabilitation.

Two papers by Keziah Latham and Jane Macnaughton (Page 63) covering the ‘how to’ of visual assessment, with both theory and practice reviewed. In a separate paper describing the rehabilitation needs of visual impaired people, there is a helpful list of resources and their contacts (Page 104) that can be shared with everyone as required.  Ahalya Subramanian and Christopher Hull papers titled ‘Optical low vision hardware: what is currently available’ does exactly what it says on the tin and along with listing hardware available also provides advice for those looking to start work in this field or improve their practices current rehabilitative device proposal.

Chris Dickenson, Ana Hernadez Trillo and Andrew Gridley describe the advantages and disadvantages of various electronic devices to give practitioners a thorough understanding of what’s available, how they may be obtained to be able to signpost people appropriate degrees of help. The important and topically issue of falls is addressed by David Elliott and his team in their paper ‘Optometric interventions to help prevent dizziness and falls, particularly in patients with visual impairment’ (Page 111). With a list of clinical pearls that every optometrist and dispensing optician should be aware of in order to help people reduce their risk of falls.

These are just a small selection of highlights of the twelve papers included in the issue. For me this is an edition that will sit in the consulting room and become a well-worn reference guide for years to come.     

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom
Clinical Adviser, College of Optometrists

Daniel graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, where he won the Haag Strait prize for best dissertation. Before joining the College, he was Managing Director of an independent practice in Cambridge and a visiting clinician at Anglia Ruskin University. He has also worked as a senior glaucoma optometrist with Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, with Newmedica across East Anglia and as a diabetic retinopathy screening optometrist. Daniel was a member of Cambridgeshire LOC from 2007 to 2015 and a member of the College of Optometrists’ Council from 2009 to 2014, representing its Eastern region.  

He is Clinical Adviser to the College of Optometrists for three days each week, dividing the remainder of his time between community practice, glaucoma shared care clinics and providing consultancy to Specsavers. Daniel is a passionate advocate of the profession of optometry, committed to supporting all members of the profession and ensuring patient care is always at the heart of optometry. He was awarded Fellowship by Portfolio in December 2018.

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