Assessment of Low Vision Rehabilitation Goals Using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure

Introduction: As emerging therapies enter clinical trials, functional vision assessments are required by regulatory bodies to show real-world effectiveness. Development of new outcome measures should begin with a thorough understanding of the goals of people with low vision. The study aims to explore the rehabilitation goals of people with low vision by analyzing data collected with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in an Australian cohort. Methods: We applied thematic analysis to a retrospective dataset of reported goals of people with low vision, obtained using the COPM. The dataset was obtained from a low vision service provider, Vision Australia. We analyzed de-identified COPM data from 190 clients (122 female, 64%). Three main themes were identified (safety and confidence, life skills, and leisure). Results: “Safety and confidence” is about participants being able to access their home, community, and workplace safely and confidently. Most (87%) of the goals related to effective navigation and mobility. The “life skills” theme included goals related to personal care (25%), kitchen skills (25%), and interpersonal skills (5%), and for parents, their child's development (43%). The “leisure” theme is about engaging in leisure activities and socializing with others. More than half (53%) of the participants reported access to media as a rehabilitation goal, and many wanted to improve their information technology skills. Discussion: In conclusion, we identified three main goals: safety and confidence, especially in accessing the wider community and safety around the home environment; life skills, including kitchen work; and leisure activity, such as accessing print and electronic material. Most mobility goals focused on enhancing feelings of safety, confidence, and independence. These findings underscore the crucial role of emotional support in enhancing functional mobility. Implications for Practitioners: The results identify important goals that could be incorporated into vision restoration clinical trials, in order to emphasize clients’ desired visual functioning.