VISION AWARENESS BOOT CAMP

Window Into the World of Vision Loss

Presented ByMontgomery County Association for The

Blind

10 Basic Rules Serving Patients with Vision Loss

The Do’s and Don’ts

Rule #1: Do remember that your patient who is visually impaired is an individual first and visually impaired second.

Rule #2: Don’t assume your patient’s level of independence.

Ask your patient how much assistance they require from you.

Refrain from the temptation of wanting to do it for them.

Rule #3: Don’t Shout!!!

Your patient is visually impaired and may not be hearing impaired.

The two do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Rule#4: Do speak directly to your patient

Use your patient’s name. This will communicate to your patient that

you are speaking to them and not to someone else in the room.

Rule#5: Do use directional terms

Use directional terms such as right, left, ahead, behind, etc. Do not use general terms such as “ over there”,

“Right here”, “this”, and “that”. Do not point.

Rule#6: Do be aware of the possibility that your patient may not see you well. Please be aware of the patient’s eye condition.

Understand your patient’s functional vision implications, such as:

Restricted FieldReduced Acuities

Blind Spots or ScotomasCentral Vision Loss

Rule # 7 Don’t express overstated approval

Do not be patronizing or make the patient feel incompetent

Rule#8: Do speak when you enter and exit a room each time. Don’t just come and go.

Rule#9: Do communicate

Always tell your patient what you are going to do before you do it.

Be specific. Give details. You don’t have to be cautious of words

such as look, see and watch etc. Describe nonverbal communication such

as giving them a form or shaking their hand.

Rule#10: Do treat everyone with respect