[Low vision rehabilitation: an incipient issueReabilitaao de Baixa Visao: um problema nascente].

Abstract

Introduction: People with low vision need a vision rehabilitation process that allows them to optimize their remaining vision and thus mitigate the impact of the disability.

Objective: To describe the conditions for access to vision rehabilitation in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area.

Materials and methods: A collective case study was conducted by taking elements from phenomenology. The theoretical position of Andersen and collaborators was assumed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 patients and professionals involved in care and rehabilitation residing in municipalities in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga. The analysis was done in three stages: discovery, coding, and interpretation of the data.

Results: Two categories emerge from the study: 1) Vision rehabilitation: An incipient issue, and 2) People with low vision experience in low vision management care processes; the latter with the following subcategories: Failures in the identification and orientation to low vision management and difficulties in attending clinical care and accessing devices.

Discussion: Describing the conditions for accessing rehabilitation services can contribute to designing intervention strategies to address the identified barriers.

Conclusions: The consequences of low vision can be mitigated by accessing rehabilitation processes; however, in the four participating municipalities, people face multiple barriers to rehabilitation. This situation evidences the need to establish mechanisms that allow people with visual impairments to exercise their right to health.