Vision Rehabilitation

Dr Bona, vision rehabilitation specialist

Queen’s University’s Department of Ophthalmology is proud to announce the South East Ontario Vision Rehabilitation Service (SOVRS), in collaboration with the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic at Kingston Health Sciences Centre – Hotel Dieu Site (KHSC), and Vision Loss Rehabilitation Ontario (VLRO), a division of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and with the financial support and guidance of the South East Local Health Integration Network (SELHIN).

SOVRS is a person-centred, integrated system of care for individuals with vision loss, focusing on safety, independence and quality of life. SOVRS brings together a team of vision rehabilitation professionals who provide assessment and tailored rehabilitation plans that include learning adaptive strategies for daily activities, using visual aids and technologies, and accessing available funding and support services close to home.

Eligibility criteria:

Decreased vision + vision-related functional deficits (e.g., challenges reading books, labels, mail, etc., difficulty navigating at night, etc.)
Eye condition or neurological condition known to cause vision loss (otherwise investigate cause of symptoms first, as SOVRS is not involved in eye care or diagnosis)

Please note: There are no cut-offs for visual acuity or field of vision. Some clients may have good acuity and relatively good field of vision, but have other functional deficits (eg oculomotor dysfunction, ring scotomas, etc).

Referral:

Healthcare providers: To refer an individual with vision loss for service, please complete the SOVRS referral form and fax to 613-542-8639.

Self-referrals can be made by calling the Vision Loss Rehabilitation registrar at 613-542-4975 ext. 5069 or by completing the online form: Make a referral | Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada.

*When completing the self-referral, please indicate whether you would like to complete the assessment at the Hotel Dieu Hospital Vision Rehabilitation Clinic, at the Kingston Vision Loss Rehabilitation office on Princess St., or at home if you are unable to attend office appointments.

Download PFD

Eligibility criteria:

Referral:

SOVRS Referral form

For questions about SOVRS, please contact the clinic administrative assistant Erin Twiddy: 613-544-3400 x3203.

Read more about the SOVRS at KHSC.