The peer review committees have made their final program selections and the schedule for clinical education and research sessions is now underway. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect at this year's conference:
Pre-Conference Workshops, Wednesday September 12
Addressing the Psychosocial Impact of Vision Loss, Diane B. Whitaker, OD. Historically, the psychosocial impact of vision loss has been overlooked or ignored by the eye care community, even though it has a tremendous impact on an individual’s functional performance. Recent studies have shown that vision rehabilitation may improve functional ability, and, therefore, lessen the frustration, anxiety, and sense of loss associated with visual impairment. However, identifying and addressing the underlying psychological issues related to loss are critical to ensure an optimal vision rehabilitation outcome.
Treating Older Adults With Dual Sensory Impairment, Jean-Pierre Gagné, PhD. This session will address the effects and consequences of acquired hearing loss in older adults and present strategies than can be used to optimize communication.The psychosocial effects of hearing loss in older adults will be presented.The effects of hearing loss on older adults with visual impairments will be discussed.
Just in Time - News about the Aging Brain: How it Works; How we can Work with It, Colleen O’Donnell, OTR/L, CLVT. The scientific community’s latest research is just in time for booms in the aging population, aging eye diseases and dementia. This workshop will review new research on the aging brain and brain health. Specific techniques to enhance the vision rehabilitation program using this information will be illustrated through case studies.
Kitchen Skills 101: Envisioning Independence, Debra Sokol-McKay, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, CVRT, CDE, CLVT. Is your patient unsafe or having difficulty with meal preparation tasks? Teach him or her to use “marked” settings on a stove, identify canned beans, and utilize a talking food thermometer. Discover low vision and non-visual techniques and adaptive equipment ranging from reading food directions to food identification, preparation and cooking.
Clinical Education Session Highlights, September 13-15
A VA/VCE Perspective on TBI-Related Vision Impairment and Dysfunction. Gregory Goodrich, PhD , Felix Barker, OD, Kia Eldred, OD, Ronald Schuchard, PhD. TBI-related vision loss has been highlighted by troops injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this session we will address the types of loss, services for veterans, the coordinating role of the Vision Center of Excellence, and current research efforts relevant to evidence based practice in veteran and civilian clinical settings.
Bioptic Telescopes for Wheelchair Mobility: A Continuum of Evaluation & Training Tools. Erika Andersen, LVT, Shannon Kessler, OD, Douglas Muir, ABO, COMS, Jaqueline Wolz, PT. Bioptic telescopic spectacles (BTS) provide hands-free access to the environment potentially facilitating community mobility for users with low vision of manual or power wheelchairs. This presentation addresses integration of visual skills, orientation and mobility skills and propelling or driving skills. Participants will learn protocols for evaluating and training a continuum of skills from basic component visual skills for BTS use to integration in a dynamic, uncontrolled community environment including practices to enhance effective referral to and collaboration with multidisciplinary seating professionals. Evidence-based and best practices will be referenced throughout the presentation with identification of strength of evidence based on general consensus rating scales.
Beyond the Amsler: Current Trends in Vision Self-monitoring Approaches for Age-related Macular Degeneration. Ava Bittner, OD, PhD, Gislin Dagnelie, PhD. This course will review of the importance of early detection of vision changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), include discussion of recently developed tools for home vision monitoring for AMD, and the role of the low vision provider in fostering patient education regarding self-referrals immediately following new onset vision loss.
Driving with a Visual Impairment: Is this a Contradiction? Mark Wilkinson, OD. Concerns about whether an individual can drive with decreased central acuity or a reduced visual field can be a source of anxiety for the individual, their family and the ophthalmic practitioner. Although extensive research has been done concerning vision and driving, there is still much controversy surrounding this subject. This presentation reviews what should be considered when determining who should and should not drive. New testing procedures and case examples will be reviewed.
Visual Search Training for Hemianopsia and Visual Inattention. Lind Stevens, OTR. This course will look at various techniques used by occupational therapists to improve visual search in those with hemianopsia and visual inattention. Emphasis will be placed on the use of the Dynavision for assessment and treatment in order to promote critical thinking and encourage further inquiry into its use in the clinic.
Evaluation and Treatment of the Child with Vision Impairment. Dawn DeCarlo, OD. This course will cover clinical vision testing that goes beyond the basic acuity tests to fully evaluate the visual function of children with vision impairment. Common etiologies for pediatric vision impairment as well as their medical and rehabilitative treatment will be discussed.
The Importance of Multi-Disciplinary Care in Low Vision Rehabilitation: Benefits to Patient Care vs. The Challenge in Implementation. Tara LeBlanc, OD, OT. This presentation describes various models of low vision rehabilitation and the team members that are included in the rehabilitation team and the roles and goals of each. This will be demonstrated by case examples of a patient in each setting type. The advantages and barriers to patient care will be discussed for each model of practice. Also, for each practice modality described, challenges in implementing true multi-disciplinary care will be discussed.
Vision Research Sesssion Highlights
Modern Medicine: Development of Mobile Device and PC-based Vision Testing, Assessment and Education. Moderator: Ava Bittner, OD, PhD. This panel includes research presentations on:
- A new method for testing letter contrast sensitivity in a clinical setting: Comparing M&S smart system II letter contrast test with Pelli-Robson chart. Manokaraananthan Chandrakumar, MSc.
- Handheld Shape Discrimination Hyperacuity Test on a Mobile Device for Remote Monitoring of Visual Function in Maculopathy. Yi-Zhong Wang, PhD.
- Telerehabilitation for Artificial and Low Vision Rehabilitation. Amy Nau, OD.
- A new PC-based pediatric vision-screening test. Tomohiko Yamada, OD.
- A Survey of Smartphone Usage in Low Vision Patients. Raman Bhakhri, OD.
- Calibration system for PC-based vision testing. Gislin Dagnelie, PhD.
What Does Eye-Tracking Research Teach Us about the Use of Residual Vision? Moderator: Olga Overbury, PhD.This panel includes research presentations on:
- Investigating eye movements during tasks of daily living. Aaron Johnson, PhD
- Understanding the impact of central field loss on eye-hand coordination. Laura Renninger, PhD
- Eye-tracking on the go: Navigation in a shopping mall by people with low vision. Caitlin Murphy, MSc
- Fundus-guided eye tracking: Advantages and disadvantages. William Seiple, PhD
- Tracking the learning process involved in visual rehabilitation: Use of an eye-tracker. Marie-Chantal Wanet-Defalque, PhD
New Methods and Approaches to LV Rehabilitation. Moderator, Walter Wittich, PhD. This panel includes research presentations on:
- Dual Sensory Impairment and Deafblindness: Terminology in Clinic and Research. Walter Wittich, PhD
- Developing Traditional Chinese Characters-version Macular Mapping Test Using Contrast-Based Thresholds Properties for Letter Discrimination. Li-Ting Tsai, OT, PhD
- Evaluation of a recently implemented clinical eccentric viewing training program. Josée Duquette
- Investigating the legibility of prescription medicine labels. Susan Leat, OD, PhD
- Rehabilitative approach with MP1-microperimeter in patients with visual field defects following lesions of the central visual pathways: preliminary results. Francesca De Rossi, MD
This is only a sampling of the more than sixty sessions to choose from. Check the Envision Conference website Sessions & Events page to review updates to the complete program.
Envision Conference 2012 will take place September 12-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference, visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.
