Indigenous Health Care Services

What is vision rehabilitation?

Laptop showing a referrals webpage, with a large-print yellow keyboard and a black mouse on a desk.Vision rehabilitation is a specialized process that helps individuals with vision loss to achieve and maintain skills to live their daily lives independently. There is no age limit, and vision rehabilitation can benefit people of all ages.

Through vision rehabilitation, individuals with vision loss can learn to maximize their remaining vision and develop compensatory skills to live independently. Vision rehabilitation involves a range of techniques and strategies, including:

  • Adaptive techniques
  • Assistive technology
  • Low vision aids
  • Orientation and mobility training

Vision rehabilitation might be right for you if:

You are experiencing low vision, vision loss or difficulties with daily living.

But what does all this mean?

Simply put, someone with low vision cannot fully correct their vision with glasses or contact lenses.  They might be experiencing one of many conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and age-related eye diseases.

Vision loss can range from partial sight to complete blindness, with varying degrees of light perception. Individuals may be born with low vision or experience vision loss at any stage of life.  In addition, individuals who have experienced a stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), meningitis or brain tumours may lose their vision.

Many people with low vision or vision loss might experience difficulties with daily living. This can include struggling to read print in books or product labels, having trouble navigating your indoor or outdoor environments, a reluctance to participate in hobbies, and completing work or school tasks.

How VLRC can assist with your vision rehabilitation needs

Two individuals are in a kitchen, one in a blue polo shirt and red oven mitt, the other in a blue jacket and glasses. They are standing near a stove and laundry appliances.Our team of certified specialists is here to assist you or a loved one. We can teach you how to use low vision aids and techniques to make the most of any remaining vision. We will help you learn new ways to complete important tasks and navigate your surroundings. With our services and support, you can live as independently as possible.

At VLRC, we believe vision rehabilitation is a collaborative effort. We will create a personalized program for you and involve your community, including family members, Elders, employers, and teachers, alongside your healthcare team of professionals.

We encourage you to complete our Self-Referral form to begin your vision rehabilitation journey today.

Eye Health Screening Initiative (EHSI)

A woman with curly hair is seated while another person uses a handheld device (a portable fundus camera) to examine her eye. They are in a room with a backdrop that features Indigenous designs.The Eye Health Screening Initiative (EHSI) is an award-winning, community-based, AI-mediated screening program. It is designed to detect diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults.

The EHSI brings screening directly to underserved, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Using portable fundus cameras and Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, the program delivers quick (15-minute), culturally safe, and trauma-informed screenings directly in community, reducing barriers to access and improving health outcomes.

Individuals who screen positive have their images sent to an ophthalmologist for further review and confirmation.  All participants receive culturally appropriate education materials on diabetic retinopathy and eye health. This targeted, community-centered approach shortens wait times and improves access to care, resulting in higher patient satisfaction and better health outcomes.

If you would like to learn more or your organization would like to join us in reducing vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy, we encourage you to visit our Eye Health Screening Initiative page.