Beyond the busy clinic, SeeWay supports patients by providing holistic advice to help manage the challenges of vision loss and increase quality of life. In this article SeeWay’s Holly Kelly provides simple prompts that can help eye care professionals identify patients who will benefit from SeeWay support.

WRITER Holly Kelly

For many patients, the impact of vision loss at any degree (even subtle changes) is not only defined by diagnosis, but by how it affects everyday life. Yet functional impacts are not always reflected in visual acuity or field testing alone.¹

Vision impairment is associated with reduced quality of life, limitations in participation, and increased risk of depression, anxiety, and social isolation.¹, ²

It is well documented that functional challenges in everyday activities, particularly instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as communication, transport, and managing health, directly influence independence.³

Driving, reading, using a phone, cooking a meal, and maintaining independence are often front of mind, yet patients may often hesitate to bring them up with their eye care professional: they may not know what to ask, assume it sits outside the scope of the appointment, or may wish to avoid the conversation altogether.

In time-limited consultations, this creates an inherent obstacle, not through lack of care, but because clinical assessments are necessarily focused on measurable aspects of vision rather than lived experience.

Brief, well-placed prompts can help bridge this gap, supporting independence, participation, and psychosocial wellbeing without extending the consultation.

Addressing these broader lifestyle impacts has been shown to enhance quality of life, help to maintain independence, and reduce depression risk in people with vision impairment, making holistic care a critical factor in better long-term outcomes.¹, ²

QUICK CHECK-IN PROMPTS

Patients often focus on test results, while adapting privately to changes they may not raise. In a time-pressured setting, contained questions are more practical than open-ended ones such as below:

“Have you noticed any small changes doing day-to-day tasks lately?”

“Is anything, like reading messages or using your phone becoming a bit less automatic, or harder?”

If yes, your response might be: “That can be very common. There are some ways those tasks can be made easier. SeeWay.com.au offers practical information, help using your phone or computer, and access to professional counselling, so everyday life can feel more manageable.”

If no, you might respond: “That’s great. We’ll simply keep an eye on things over time. If anything changes, we’ll talk about it then. Here is a SeeWay brochure/website. You’ll see it has programs to show you how to adjust your own device, things like text size or having things read aloud, if you ever need it.”

EVERYDAY LIFE CHECK-IN PROMPTS

Vision loss often leads to difficulty with everyday tasks, particularly IADLs, including household tasks, shopping and finances, transportation, and managing health.³

When enquiring, useful prompts can include: “Are you managing things like appointments, medications, or phone messages okay?” and “Are you having to make changes getting around or shopping?”

If the response is yes, you might say: “That’s something we hear a lot, there are practical ways that could help to make those tasks easier. There are services that focus on everyday strategies – not just equipment – but how to do things more easily. SeeWay.com.au can introduce these resources and provide support options for you to check out in your own time and at your own pace.”

DRIVING: ACKNOWLEDGE EARLY, REVISIT OVER TIME

Few aspects of vision change carry the functional and emotional weight that driving does. It’s tied directly to independence and participation in daily life.¹

Consider asking patients: “Are you still feeling confident when you’re driving?”

Depending on the patient’s vision loss and confidence level, your responses will differ:

Early stage. “Your current vision meets the driving standard. Let’s monitor changes and work on a plan to keep you safe.”

Emerging concern. “You’re getting closer to the threshold for the driving standard. Let’s plan ahead in case this changes in future.”

When no longer safe. “Your vision no longer meets the driving standard, so it isn’t safe to continue driving. I know this is a significant change, we’ll talk through what happens next. There are supports that can help you plan transport options and stay connected.”

Regardless of how your patient currently feels, you can advise: “It’s normal to feel frustrated or uncertain about what comes next. You don’t have to manage that on your own. There is support available if you ever want to talk it through. There’s a lot of information online, and not all of it is helpful. Speak to a professional. Use trusted sources. SeeWay has access to professional counselling services for any Australian with low vision and their loved ones.”

ABOUT SEEWAY

Holistic low vision care recognises that outcomes are not determined by visual measures alone, but by how well a person can use their vision to continue to participate in everyday life.¹

SeeWay is a free national service designed to complement clinical care. It provides practical lifestyle guidance, personalised digital skills support, access to professional counselling, and trusted information, helping patients navigate everyday life with greater confidence.

Kaye Jones, Business Development Manager at SeeWay, said the service “has been purposefully designed to be accessible to patients, on their terms, in their time”.

“So, with good information, when they are ready for more extensive service supports, they feel an established connection with a service provider, and are well informed to make choices that lead to better quality of life outcomes.”

Visit SeeWay.com.au or phone (AUS) 1800 SEEWAY (1800 733 929).

Holly Kelly is Media and Communications Manager at SeeWay, combining qualifications in optical dispensing and media relations with client storytelling to deliver practical, real world informational support for people with low vision.

References
1. Luu W, Kalloniatis M, Ly A, et al. A holistic model of low vision care for improving vision-related quality of life. Clin Exp Optom. 2020 Nov;103(6):733-741. doi: 10.1111/ cxo.13054.
2. Almidani L, Miller R, Ramulu PY, et al. Vision impairment and psychosocial function in US adults. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Apr 1;142(4):283-291. doi: 10.1001/ jamaophthalmol.2023.6943.
3. Remillard ET, Koon LM, Mitzner TL, Rogers WA. Everyday challenges for individuals aging with vision impairment: Technology and implications. Gerontologist. 2024 Jun 1;64(6):1-12. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnad169.