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Inova Hazel E. R. Widner Low Vision Center

A service of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital

3289 Woodburn Road
Suite 300
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-208-6020

We want to help you make the most of your remaining eyesight. At Inova's Hazel E. R. Widner Low Vision Center, our goal is to help you become more independent and productive, so you can do all the things you want to do - read a newspaper or book, write a letter, watch television, pay your bills, or perform any of life's daily tasks.

You are not alone. More than 13 million Americans are visually impaired. They have less than normal eyesight that cannot be fully restored by surgery, medical treatments, or conventional eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions.

But even with these problems, most people with low vision have some useful, remaining vision. It is our goal to help you use your remaining vision to its maximum potential - to help with dressing, cooking, using the telephone, reading or writing.

Regardless of the cause, if you want to make the most of the vision you have, we can help you.

Your Low Vision Program will include:

• Low Vision Optometrist
• Occupational Therapist
• Community Resources

There may be several aspects to your low vision rehabilitation program, including:

Eye Examination
Your rehabilitation program will begin with an eye examination to determine:

• The nature and impact of your vision loss
• The functional limits of your vision
• The optimal optical and non-optical strategies to enhance your vision
• The appropriate rehabilitation referrals

Visual Skills Training
Visual skills training involves training your eyes to use the position of best vision effectively. There are techniques and exercises that can help you resume many of the tasks you haven't been able to perform.

Environmental Adaptation
Additionally, your occupational therapist will teach you environmental adaptations to increase your safety and enhance function within your home. Some examples include:

• Lighting recommendations
• Enhancing contrast
• Labeling
• Organization
• Glare reduction techniques

Your individualized program

Causes of Low Vision

Vision problems that can't be corrected are caused by genetic factors, injury, disease or the effects of aging. Some of the most frequently diagnosed causes are: diabetic retinopathy retinitis pigmentosa glaucoma stroke Learn more about Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

We will be develop a customized program just for you based on the tasks and activities you want to perform, the skills and devices your team believes will best help you, and the training and support sessions that will best assist you in meeting your goals. Your progress will depend on your commitment, participation and follow through with agreed upon recommendations.

Low Vision Devices
Once you have developed your underlying visual skills, you will be introduced to low vision devices if necessary.The devices used depend upon the demands of the task, and usually more than one device is necessary to accomplish a variety of goals.

Such devices include:

• Magnifiers, hand-held or stand
• Video Magnifiers
• Reading spectacles
• Telescopes
• Glare Control Devices
• Enlarged products

How to Begin
You may be referred by your ophthalmologist or optometrist, or you may refer yourself by calling 703-208-6020. And taking the first step toward more functional independence.

Your Program ...
Will be unique Depending on the tasks you want to be able to perform, the skills and devices your team believes will best help you, and the training and support that will best help you.