Specialization in low vision rehabilitation and visual therapy.

A questionnaire was mailed to members of the Low Vision Section (LVS) of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Council on Visual Development (COVD) to determine the practice patterns of low vision clinicians, amount and source of specialty training and the extent of dual specialization in both low vision rehabilitation and visual training by members of COVD. Results indicate that 61.1 percent of AOA/LVS members and 20.9 percent of COVD members examine more than four patients per month who require low vision services. Yet, only 2.1 percent of COVD respondents and 32.2 percent of AOA/LVS respondents spend more than 20 percent of their practice time providing low vision services.