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    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
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        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • How The Eye Works
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        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
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        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
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        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
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Macular Disease

  • Macular Degeneration
    • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
        • Check My Macula sign up
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
      • Lifestyle
      • Nutrition
        • Nutrient Content of Foods
      • Supplements
    • Detection
      • Early Signs
      • Changes to Vision
      • Professional Testing
      • Amsler Grid
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Early and Intermediate Macular Degeneration
      • Wet Macular Degeneration
      • Dry Macular Degeneration
    • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How The Eye Works
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • How the Eye Works
    • About Diabetes
      • Diabetes and the Eye
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
    • Detection
      • Testing
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Diabetes Care Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Low Vision
    • Living with Low Vision
      • Causes
      • Impact
      • Challenges
      • Just Diagnosed
      • Maintaining Independence
        • Reading
        • Driving
        • Lifestyle
      • Low Vision Assessment
        • Visiting a Low Vision Service Provider
      • Coping Strategies
      • Depression
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Carer and Family
      • Guide for Care
      • Becoming a Carer
      • Care Plan
      • Support Team
      • Effective Communication
      • Guiding
      • Caring for the Carer
      • Entitlements
      • Impact of Caring
    • Aids and Technology
      • Ten Step Action Plan
      • Living Aids
        • Lighting
        • Reading Aids
        • Optical Magnifiers
        • Spectacles
        • Organisation
        • Writing Aids
        • Talking Aids
        • Leisure
      • Mobility Aids
        • Guide Dogs
        • Canes
        • Electronic Mobility Aids
      • Technology
        • Mobile Phones
        • Television and Radio
        • Audio Technology
          • Computers and Software
          • Electronic Magnifiers
        • Subsidy Programs
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Reducing Risk
          • Around the Home
          • In the Community
          • Your Health
            • Mobility and Strength
            • Medicines
          • Mobility Training
        • Falling
          • Why We Fall
          • Planning For Help
          • After A Fall
          • Fear of Falling
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease

    Support Team

    It is important for a carer to recognise they are part of a support team. That team is centred on the person who requires care, in partnership with the primary carer, and further supported by family, health care professionals, low vision services, support groups and other community services.

    A carer is never alone in providing assistance to the person they care for. A carer is part of an extended support team.

     

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    Eye health professionals

    The following eye health professionals are responsible for helping to diagnose and manage eye disease and low vision:

    Ophthalmologists

    An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has completed extra training in eyes. Ophthalmologists perform eye exams, treat disease, prescribe medication and perform surgery. They may also write prescriptions for spectacles and contact lenses. Some ophthalmologists have further specialisation as a retinal specialist.

    Find an ophthalmologist.

    Optometrists

    An optometrist performs eye exams for both vision and health problems, prescribes spectacles and fits contact lenses. Some optometrists have further specialisation in low vision rehabilitation. They can diagnose eye diseases and refer patients to ophthalmologists for treatment. For people with low vision, the optometrist can provide practical advice on how to maintain quality of life and independence.

    Find an optometrist.

    Orthoptist

    An orthoptist is an allied health professional who assists in the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems. An orthoptist may work in an ophthalmologist’s surgery, a hospital/community eye clinic or in a rehabilitation setting.

    Rehabilitation professionals

    Rehabilitation is essential for supporting independence and quality of life. The following professionals can help to teach new skills to people who have low vision for ongoing independence and confidence in everyday activities.

    Occupational therapists

    An occupational therapist (OT) is a health professional who assists people with vision impairment perform practical everyday tasks by providing them with the skills and strategies to maintain their quality of life. Occupational therapists show people with low vision how they can make the most of their remaining vision as well as using other senses like touch, hearing and smell to perform daily activities. This may include everyday tasks such as cooking, personal care, housework, making a cup of tea or using the telephone.

    Orientation and mobility instructors

    Orientation and mobility instructors help a person with low vision to move about independently, confidently and safely. A mobility instructor can visit a person’s home and give advice and training regarding common challenges such as stairs, public transport, crossing roads and finding the way to different places.

    Find low vision service providers.

    Blindness and low vision agencies

    A carer can assist a person who has low vision to access the right services and aids by contacting a local low vision agency and requesting information on the best course of action to follow.

    One of the most important services that blindness and low vision agencies offer is a low vision assessment. This assessment will help determine the amount of vision remaining and how to make the most of that vision.

    Some blindness and low vision agencies also provide low vision aids and adaptive technology. This equipment can help a person who has low vision maintain quality of life and independence.

    Find low vision service providers.

    Carers associations

    In every State and Territory of Australia there is a carers association which oversees all of the services and support available to carers. Depending on the State or Territory, the carers association can connect carers to services such as counselling, respite care, information and advice. These services are all designed to help carers in their care giving role.

    Find the details you need to contact a carers association.

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