Assessments

After the intake process, you may attend different kinds of assessments at the Low Vision Service, depending on your needs. As a first step, however, you will need a comprehensive eye exam if you haven't had one recently.

It is important to have a comprehensive eye exam before beginning vision rehabilitation with the Low Vision Service. If you have had a recent eye exam, we will need a report from your eye doctor. The report helps us make your visit here more efficient and effective. We can identify training and devices which might be the most beneficial for you before your appointment so we can focus on your goals and the devices that might help. If you need help requesting a report from your eye doctor, please let us know.

If you don’t have a regular optometrist, you can have a comprehensive eye exam at our Primary Care Service. Appointments for eye exams are available at our clinics in Waterloo or Kitchener. However, low vision appointments are only available at our Waterloo Clinic.

Unlike a typical eye examination, a low vision assessment determines what level of vision you have and how you are using your vision.

Low vision assessments are provided by residency-trained optometrists (optometrists with extra training in low vision rehabilitation), residents (optometrists who are undergoing this training), and upper-year optometry students practising under supervision.

This assessment evaluates all aspects of your vision including:

• The sharpness of your vision.
• Your peripheral vision.
• Your colour vision.
• Your ability to see contrast.

Your low vision assessment will likely also include a vision aids assessment. This assessment will:

• Evaluate which visual aids might help you complete tasks like reading or daily activities.
• Help you consider factors like cost and ease of use when choosing devices.

After your low vision assessment and vision aids assessment (if applicable), the Low Vision Service's various vision rehabilitation specialists will work with you and the optometrist to help you reach your goals. 

The patient care coordinator will contact you to schedule your appointments. You may be scheduled for more than one appointment in a day or we may recommend multiple appointments over two or more days. Please let us know about any scheduling accommodations you may need.

Appointments you may have include:

• Training on prescribed vision aids.
• Suggestions for environmental modifications to make the most of your vision.
• Counselling to help you cope with vision loss and/or connect you to additional resources in the community.
• Assessment for high-tech devices.

We are a Regional Assessment Centre (RAC) for technological vision aids under the Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP).