gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Basic training in techniques for the blind in the network of rehabilitation of recently blinded people

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author A. Stelker - Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt e. V., Institute for Rehabilitation for the Blind and partially sigthed, Marburg
  • S. Kunze - Augenklinik der Philippsuniversität Marburg, Marburg

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogDO.17.11

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog161.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Stelker et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

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Objective

There are about 150.000 blind persons in Germany, the amount of recently blinded persons per annum is about 20.000 persons (From data, published by the Association of Blind and partially sigthed in Germany). Eighty percent of daily activities can only be carried out with the aid and control of eyes. This may prove that the eye is the most important sensual organ of the human being. If, from the medical point of view, nothing can be done to improve the visual impairment, it is inevitable to work out a new prospective of his life together with the patient.

Methods

In addition to ambulant training patients are trained in a one-year basic rehabilitation specifically carried out for blind persons the working techniques important for school and profession as well as the daily living skills. The aim of the rehabilitation is to enable the patients to use their resources for a new orientation.

Results

During the past ten years an average of twenty patients per annum took part in the basic rehabilitations course. A third of the patients attended school after finishing the course, a further third intended to start a vocational training or to go to university or to start their profession which they had carried out before. The rest of the participants had, for medical reasons no such prospective.

Conclusions

The interdisciplinary cooperation within the framework of medical, social and vocational rehabilitation is indispensible for a competent and wide support of patients. The aim is to enable the patients to make full use of all the opportunities for a self-determined and self-reliant life in society.