A comparison of comprehensive low vision services to those services normally available to older persons with visual impairments in New Zealand

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) sponsored a research project to assess the effectiveness of comprehensive low vision services for persons with age-related vision loss. Clinical low vision services were provided from existing low vision clinics in four population centres of the country. These programs were run in cooperation with field services from RNZFB to constitute what we have defined as comprehensive low vision services. Measures of visual function, activities of daily living, quality of life and use of health care services were recorded prior to the receipt of services and 6 months and 1 year later. Comparisons in this study were made between those receiving comprehensive low vision services in the experimental group and those receiving services normally available to members in the comparison group. No differences were found between the groups or across time on any of the primary dependent variables. A significant change score was noted in the rate of visits to a doctor or from a nurse for the experimental group from pre-test to post-test but not for the comparison group.