With February being Age-Related Macular Degeneration(AMD)/Low Vision Awareness month, it is the perfect opportunity to highlight a series of free, web-based, Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE)-accredited low vision modules recently released on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) TRAIN.

 

Providing blind and low vision rehabilitation care is critically important to VHA, as it is estimated that from now until the year 2020, there will be almost one million severely visually impaired Veterans. The Optometry Service at VHA is committed to the care of these visually impaired Veterans through advanced training of clinicians in low vision rehabilitation in established optometry residency programs. Many of the optometrists at VHA are actively involved in research pertaining to vision loss and vision rehabilitation; some are even renowned national leaders and educators in the field. These renowned VHA experts are taking advantage of VHA TRAIN’s exceptional, free, accredited courses – and you can too.

 

The aim of these courses is to supplement and expand upon the basic coursework offered in schools and colleges of optometry and to assist providers in better understanding low vision services. The early feedback has been promising, with experienced providers asking if they can use some of the course material for patient education because the content is so approachable.

 

Overall, there are nine online courses totaling 28 hours. A description of each course is listed below:

 

Overview of history of low vision services, along with different service delivery models of low vision clinics. 

Credit Offered - 2 COPE
 

Module 2: Functional Vision Loss
How to identify and treat patients with functional vision loss. 

Credit Offered - 3 COPE

 

Module 3: Low Vision Exam Testing
Overview of specialized assessment tools and various testing techniques. 

Credit Offered - 2 COPE

 

Education in the area of how to prescribe for individuals with near vision issues. 

Credit Offered - 5 COPE

 

Module 5: Prescribing for Distance
Prescribing for individuals with distance vision issues. 

Credit Offered - 4 COPE

 

Education in the area of how to prescribe for individuals with intermediate vision issues. 

Credit Offered - 2 COPE

 

Module 7: Advanced Management Topics
Advanced management topics to enhance current treatment methods. 

Credit Offered - 6 COPE

 

Module 8: Psychosocial Issues
Current methods for treating psychosocial issues in vision impairment. 

Credit Offered - 4 COPE

 

Current methods of treating low vision and blind rehab patients through the use of telehealth technologies. 

Credit Offered - 1 COPE

 

As a reminder, VHA continues to build its course catalog with hot topics ranging from opioid addiction and pain management, to treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Those providing care for Veterans are invited to subscribe to specific health care training topics through VHA TRAIN. This subscription provides learners with periodic VHA TRAIN eBlasts and other news tailored to specific areas of interest, greatly enhancing the Veterans’ ability to receive the exceptional, coordinated and connected care they deserve.