Topical Review: Clinical, Physiological, and Functional Benefits of Home-based Telerehabilitation with Occupational Therapists for Low Vision

Authors

  • Rebecca L. Kammer Samsara Vision, Inc., Far Hills, New Jersey, United States
  • Reilly Federici Seton Hall University, South Orange Village, New Jersey, United States
  • Stasi Gormley Stasi’s Low Vision Therapy, LLC, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63144/ijt.2025.6703

Keywords:

Age-related macular degeneration, Low vision, Low vision rehabilitation, Occupational therapy, Telerehabilitation

Abstract

For patients with low vision, rehabilitation enables the performance of daily activities and the acquisition of skills while enhancing quality of life, despite vision loss. Access to comprehensive low vision rehabilitation services, however, is often limited. The rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated innovative delivery of healthcare, including telerehabilitation for low vision. This literature review was undertaken to evaluate the current evidence regarding telerehabilitation conducted by occupational therapists for patients with low vision. In this review, studies investigating the effects of new programs largely found significant improvements in outcomes. Results of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial found that reading ability significantly improved and results did not differ between therapies conducted through telerehabilitation or in-office. Additionally, studies surveying providers and patients regarding their sentiments about telehealth found that comfort level and overall satisfaction were similar between in-office visits and telerehabilitation.

  

References

Aravich, D. & Stants, H. (2022). Exploring the impact of a hybrid telehealth program for adults living with low vision: A descriptive, qualitative, exploratory pilot program evaluation. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 38(3), 225-230. https://doi.org/10.1097/TGR.0000000000000366

Bittner, A. K., Kaminski, J. E., Ross, N. C., Shepherd, J. D., Thoene, S. J., Bui, S. Z., Yoshinaga, P. D., & BeST-AID Study Team (2022). Telerehabilitation training to facilitate improved reading ability with new magnification devices for low vision. Optometry and Vision Science, 99(10), 743–749. https://doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000001944

Bittner, A. K., Kaminski, J. E., Yoshinaga, P. D., Shepherd, J. D., Chan, T. L., Malkin, A. G., Deemer, A., Gobeille, M., Thoene, S. J., Rossi, A., Ross, N. C., & BeST-AID Study Team (2024). Outcomes of telerehabilitation versus in-office training with magnification devices for low vision: A randomized controlled trial. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 13(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.13.1.6

Bittner, A. K., Yoshinaga, P. D., Rittiphairoj, T., & Li, T. (2023). Telerehabilitation for people with low vision. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1(1), CD011019. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011019

Bittner, A. K., Yoshinaga, P. D., Shepherd, J. D., Kaminski, J. E., Malkin, A. G., Chun, M. W., Chan, T. L., Deemer, A. D., Ross, N. C., & BeST-AID Study Team (2022). Acceptability of telerehabilitation for magnification devices for the visually impaired using various approaches to facilitate accessibility. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 11(8), 4. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.11.8.4

Choi, N. G., DiNitto, D. M., Marti, C. N., & Choi, B. Y. (2022). Telehealth use among older adults during COVID-19: Associations with sociodemographic and health characteristics, technology device ownership, and technology learning. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(3), 600–609. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211047347

Dunne, S., Close, H., Richards, N., Ellison, A., & Lane, A. R. (2020). Maximizing telerehabilitation for patients with visual loss after stroke: interview and focus group study with stroke survivors, carers, and occupational therapists. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(10), e19604. https://doi.org/10.2196/19604

Goldstein, J. E., Massof, R. W., Deremeik, J. T., Braudway, S., Jackson, M. L., Kehler, K. B., Primo, S. A., Sunness, J. S., & Low Vision Research Network Study Group (2012). Baseline traits of low vision patients served by private outpatient clinical centers in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology, 130(8), 1028–1037. https://doi.org/10.1001/archophthalmol.2012.1197

Harvison, N. (2022). Academic programs annual data report: Academic year 2020-2021. American Occupational Therapy Association. www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/educationcareers/educators/2020-2021-annual-data-report.pdf.

Hatcher, D., Chang, E., Schmied, V., & Garrido, S. (2019). exploring the perspectives of older people on the concept of home. Journal of Aging Research, 2019, 2679680. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2679680

Hedayati, H. R., Hadi, N., Mostafavi, L., Akbarzadeh, A., & Montazeri, A. (2014). Quality of life among nursing home residents compared with the elderly at home. Shiraz E-Medical Journal, 15(4), e22718. https://doi.org/10.17795/semj22718

Jackson, M. L., Virgili, G., Shepherd, J. D., Di Nome, M. A., Fletcher, D. C., Kaleem, M. A., Lam, L. A., Lawrence, L. M., Sunness, J. S., Riddering, A. T., & American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern Vision Rehabilitation Committee (2023). Vision Rehabilitation Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology, 130(3), P271–P335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.10.033

Jones, L., Lee, M., Castle, C. L., Heinze, N., & Gomes, R. S. M. (2022). Scoping review of remote rehabilitation (telerehabilitation) services to support people with vision impairment. BMJ Open, 12(8), e059985. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059985

Kaldenberg, J. & Smallfield, S. (2017). Training older adults with low vision to use a computer tablet: A feasibility study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(2), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616648172

Kaldenberg, J., & Smallfield, S. (2020). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for older adults with low vision. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 7402397010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.742003

Klauke, S., Sondocie, C., & Fine, I. (2023). The impact of low vision on social function: The potential importance of lost visual social cues. Journal of Optometry, 16(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optom.2022.03.003

Kok, L., Berden, C., & Sadiraj, K. (2015). Costs and benefits of home care for the elderly versus residential care: a comparison using propensity scores. European Journal of Health Economics, 16(2), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-013-0557-1

Liu, C. J., & Chang, M. C. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(1), 7401185010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038372

McAlearney, A. S., Gaughan, A. A., Shiu-Yee, K., & DePuccio, M. J. (2022). Silver linings around the increased use of telehealth after the emergence of COVID-19: Perspectives from primary care physicians. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13, 21501319221099485. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319221099485

Patel, A., Fothergill, A. S., Barnard, K. E. C., Dunbar, H., & Crossland, M. D. (2021). Lockdown low vision assessment: an audit of 500 telephone-based modified low vision consultations. Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics, 41(2), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12789

Riddering A. T. (2016). Visual impairment and factors associated with difficulties with daily tasks. (Publication No. 2465) [Doctoral dissertation, Western Michigan University]. ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2465/

Shaver J. (2022). The state of telehealth before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary Care, 49(4), 517–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2022.04.002

Smallfield, S., Clem, K., & Myers, A. (2013). Occupational therapy interventions to improve the reading ability of older adults with low vision: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(3), 288–295. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.004929

Stevens-Ratchford, R. & Krause, A. (2004). Visually impaired older adults and home-based leisure activities: The effects of person-environment congruence. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 98(1), 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X0409800103

Tinelli, F., Cioni, G., & Purpura, G. (2017). Development and Implementation of a new telerehabilitation system for audiovisual stimulation training in hemianopia. Frontiers in Neurology, 8, 621. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2017.00621

Weisser-Pike, O., Bray, R., Hanson, H., Johnson, K., Kincaid, O., Mills, M., Ozanich, C., & Woods, K. (2023). Addressing current issues in vision rehabilitation as a specialty practice of occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 37(3), 316–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2023.2217256

Downloads

Published

2025-06-12

How to Cite

Kammer, R. L., Federici, R., & Gormley, S. (2025). Topical Review: Clinical, Physiological, and Functional Benefits of Home-based Telerehabilitation with Occupational Therapists for Low Vision. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.63144/ijt.2025.6703

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Occupational Therapy Telehealth

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Rebecca Kammer, Reilly Federici, Stasi Gormely

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.