Partnership in Low Vision

Introduces its new professional program

Low Vision is a developing and exciting specialty area for eyecare professionals.

Vision Advantage International Inc. (VAI) has the resources to help you build your low vision practice.

VAI offers an "individualized" program that can include education, consulting, equipment, and office management.

You no longer need to accept the "standardized pre-packaged" systems offered elsewhere.  We will design a program to meet your specific office resources, patient population, level of interest, and experience.

Our goal is to make your initial entry into low vision very successful so we can enjoy a mutually positive, ongoing partnership as your low vision distributor and consultant.

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Consider one of the following options:

The Starter Package

• A basic diagnostic set will be designed, based on your practice setting and patient population, by our technical consultant.
• Emphasis is on diagnostic devices for patients with 20/120 or better acuity.
• Diagnostic inventory will allow for evaluation of patients at all levels of acuity.
• Training programs are individualized and conducted at the Center for Sight Enhancement (CSE) of the University of Houston College of Optometry.  The one-day training program will review exam protocol and the low vision devices in the diagnostic set as well as address basic billing issues.

The Complete Office/Clinic Package

• The basic diagnostic kit will address the needs of patients with modest to severe vision loss.
• Program allows the clinician to become more involved with bioptic fitting.
• Package helps the clinician become more involved with prescribing telemicroscopes.
• In addition to a basic review of examination protocols, billing suggestions, and overview of the diagnostic set's optical systems, the two-day (10 hour) weekend training program at CSE is directed to developing expertise in fitting the more sophisticated optical systems as well as patient examinations and case reviews.
• Three hours of in-office assistance is designed to set up the disgnostic set and familiarize staff with equipment.
• Additional in-office training/instructional program for clinician and/or staff is available.

The Comprehensive Office/Clinic Package

• The diagnostic system will allow the clinician to manage all aspects of vision loss that presents to the office or clinic.
• A loaner system is included for patient home training programs.
• Basic assessment tools designed to manage the non-verbal patient are part of the package.
• You can choose from a 5-day CSE program OR two days (18 hours) of in-office training for clinician and staff by a national educational and technical consultant.
• The training is program directed to the experienced clinician, with emphasis on more sophisticated treatment options and patient management plans.
• Assistance is provided in setting up equipment, office design, and marketing plans.

Low Vision Instructional Program

Offered by

Center for Sight Enhancement

Day One

• Introduction to delivery models of care and low vision demographics.
• Introduction to the theory of magnification.
• Review of the functional optics of low vision devices.
• Lab experiences and activities with low vision devices.
• Observation of low vision examination with subsequent case review.

Day Two

• Detailed review of the low vision examination/test - routine and special.
• Theoretical and practical analysis of sample case managment stategies.
• Clinical treatment options for eccentric viewing problems (intro to SLO).
• Theories for treatment of binocularity and contrast problems presented by the visually impaired patient.
• Participation (with guidance) in actual low vision examination and subsequent case review/critique.

Day Three

• Management of the patient needing telescopic devices - bioptics and handheld.
• Management of the patient needing telemicroscopic or intermediate devices.
• Filter evaluations for photophobia, glare, and contrast.
• Patient care involvement (with guidance) in management of patient having problems with distance or intermediate activities.
• Case review of patient seen or from clinical records.

Day Four

• Advanced patient management - bioptics for driving, management of visual field loss and neglect, examining non-verbal patient.
• Clinical experiences related to special management protocols.

Day Five

• Training the patient in the use of near prescriptions.
• Training the patient to use telescopes and bioptics.
• Overview of non-optical devices and training equipment/philosophies.
• Non-supervised low vision examination.
• Case review and finalizing treatment option.
• Review of all material and open-ended question period.
• Low vision examination (optional).

It's a Great Partnership

TRAINING

Training programs include patient care experiences and case reviews.  It is the philosophy of VAI and CSE that one can only learn this specialty by examining patients and reviewing actual cases.

CONSULTATION

Ongoing consultation with our consultants at VAI or CSE is included with all programs and is ecouraged.  We have found that communicating by email has been very effective.  Telephone consults are also welcomed within the schedule limits of our consultants.

IN-OFFICE PROGRAM

Advantages of our in-office program include: the clinician does not have to leave the office; staff can participate in the training; there are no travel expenses; the consultant can help set up the equipment; office patients can be seen (with consultant supervision) and billed for the service and device- which help offset some of the expenses.

INDIVIDUALIZATION

Most importantly, a system will be designed for your office, experienced level, and patient population in coordination with our national educational and technical consultant.  The consultant becomes your advocate for your practice to make sure you are making a wise and effective investment in office time and money.

For further information:

(877)-847-2381

Ronald W. De Long                                                 Randy Jose, O.D., FAAO

President, Vision Advantage Int'l Inc.                     National Education & Technical Consultant