Beyond Eye Care – Low Vision Rehabilitation of a Patient with Recent-Onset Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report

Authors

  • Teresa Poon BSc, od
  • T. Labreche BSc, OD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15353/cjo.76.525

Keywords:

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, low vision rehabilitation, multidisciplinary, competitive enablement, counselling

Abstract

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mutation that results in painless, sudden-onset, bilateral central vision loss and dyschromatopsia. Currently, there are no proven treatments to prevent or reverse the optic neuropathy in LHON. Accordingly, individualized rehabilitation services and assistive devices for low vision are crucial for helping people with LHON to regain independence and quality of life. This report describes the impact of multidisciplinary low vision rehabilitation on a young man with recent-onset LHON and emphasizes the importance of the provision of emotional support through counselling for low vision.

Author Biographies

Teresa Poon, BSc, od

University of Waterloo

T. Labreche, BSc, OD

University of Waterloo

Published

2014-12-10

How to Cite

Poon, T., & Labreche, T. (2014). Beyond Eye Care – Low Vision Rehabilitation of a Patient with Recent-Onset Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report. Canadian Journal of Optometry, 76(2), 7. https://doi.org/10.15353/cjo.76.525

Issue

Section

Case Reports