The role of eye pathology in low vision evaluation

The low vision patient's ultimate function and ability to profit from his rehabiliation are influenced by his eye disease. A discussion of low vision patient management uses as a basis the observation that greater success is evidenced when the low vision patient is treated in the context of his eye disease, visual acuity and his subsequent adjustment problems. The diagnosis, visual acuity and the visual field are explored as elements of a functional classification. The author classifies eye diseases according to the pattern of visual field loss: no loss of visual field; central or macular field loss; peripheral or perimacular field loss. Visual characteristics are then elaborated and case management is suggested in the context of each category.