Subjects are enrolled each school year based on referrals from school systems in Tennessee, ophthalmologists, and optometrists. A total of 90 new students are enrolled each year. Students are provided a comprehensive low vision rehabilitation evaluation by a low vision optometrist and prescribed optical devices to improve distance appreciation, near reading, and other tasks based on individual needs. Students are then trained to use the devices efficiently by master's level teachers of the visually impaired. The teachers travel to the students environment (school/home/work) for the training.
Variables such as ocular disease, age, visual acuity, visual improvement with optical devices, type of optical device, and reading speed are defined for each student. Providing Access to the Visual Environment also provides...