Orientation and mobility training for adults with low vision

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rehabilitation
• Mobility Training

Background:

• Orientation and mobility (O&M) training is crucial for visually impaired individuals to maintain travel independence.
• This training equips individuals with essential skills to navigate and compensate for diminished visual input.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of orientation and mobility (O&M) training for adults experiencing low vision.
• To assess the impact of O&M training, with or without assistive devices, on mobility outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted, searching multiple databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, OpenSIGLE, mRCT, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ZETOC.
• Included were randomized or quasi-randomized trials comparing O&M training against no training in adults with low vision.
• Two authors independently screened studies, assessed quality, and extracted data.

Main Results:

• Only two small quasi-randomized studies met the inclusion criteria, both involving phases of the same training curriculum.
• Neither study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in mobility performance following O&M training.
• Potential reasons for non-significant findings include high baseline scores (ceiling effect) and curriculum refinements in the second study.

Conclusions:

• The current evidence from two small quasi-randomized trials is insufficient to demonstrate a difference in O&M training effectiveness for adults with low vision.
• Further high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to compare different O&M training approaches.
• Establishing consensus on standardized, reliable, and sensitive mobility performance measurement instruments is essential for future research.