Occupational performance in the basic and instrumental daily activities of persons with low vision who received rehabilitation services

Abstract

Introduction: The objective was to describe the occupational performance in basic and instrumental daily activities of persons living in the community who have received comprehensive interdisciplinary low vision rehabilitation services. Method: The Mesure de l'impact de la déficience visuelle dans les activités quotidiennes (a measure of the impact of visual impairment in daily activities) was administered at home to 102 individuals who participated in a comprehensive low vision rehabilitation program. Performance in 16 near-vision activities was measured with the person's aids and strategies; nine more global tasks were questionnaire-based. Handicap scores were obtained by multiplying performance × importance ratings. Results: Average performance was satisfactory or very satisfactory for 21/25 items, even if 92% of the participants had a moderate or severe visual impairment. A severe or total handicap was present in at least one activity for 79% of the subjects. The most handicapping activities required visual searches of finely printed information on a complex or visually crowded document, or shopping and mobility. Conclusion: People with low vision who took part in a comprehensive rehabilitation program generally face no or slight handicap situations in their basic and instrumental daily activities. However, major handicap situations may remain in some important activities.