The following is a collaborative post with Caroliene de Vlaming. Caroliene is a freelance writer with a keen interest in health and technology. When she’s not working on her latest piece, Caroliene enjoys planning backpacking trips around the world with her husband.
Eye care is essential for families, and as it is, many children are not getting the care they need. A study from AJPM Focus found that comprehensive eye examinations were uncommon in preschool children, “including those with treatable vision disorders”. Eye conditions worsen over time and can pose further challenges for families who may already be dealing with disabilities.
Thankfully, many resources are available to families that need long-term eye care. The first step is to get an eye exam, which can be done for free or at a low cost across various centers in the country. If your family travels often for recreation or medical purposes, annual eye exams are a short but necessary part of your yearly health routine.
How eye exams work for families and disabled persons
Eye exams are mostly the same for the disabled community, with some provisions to make the process more accessible as needed. In general, you can expect a comprehensive test to be made up of different optical tests to identify your visual clarity and any potential problems related to the eyes. It’s worth noting that the Association of British Dispensing Opticians says that people who are disabled are more likely to have sight problems. This is because the eyes are also impacted by many aspects that can cause such disabilities to present themselves.
Some leading optical brands have made great efforts to make tests easier for people with disabilities, regardless of what age they may be. LensCrafters has the Ophty app for people wondering how to measure pupillary distance (PD) but may not have easy access to a convenient optician. This process is important because an incorrect PD can cause eye strain, fatigue, and problems with seeing properly. Using the Ophty app allows you to measure single or dual PD, which can help you fill in a prescription for glasses. From here, you can also book an eye exam with a nearby provider.
These days, providers can ensure wheelchair users easily access ophthalmology instruments. Eye care providers also have alternate eye tests that work with children who are unable to read or may have special needs. For the usage of optical test machines, adjustments are also made to make room for the wheelchair, keep things comfortable for positioning and distance, and consider any existing vision disability.
Why eye care is important when traveling for families with disabilities
Navigating unfamiliar environments
The vision of the guardian and any disabled family member is vital when traveling. This is because visual independence can be the main factor in traversing unfamiliar environments. Different countries and cities have varied layouts, with a variety of obstacles, changes in terrain, and even potential hazards that you need to watch out for. Since mobility may be an issue, vision makes up for it to ensure safety and comfort. This is even more crucial if you’re dealing with unstable terrain in more remote or outdoor settings.
Maximizing assistive care
According to research on traveling with disability from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one of the most common barriers to assistive care in other countries is a lack of knowledge of disabilities on the part of service staff. Hence, it is crucial to be able to make use of available mobility devices as a family without additional aid. Motorized wheelchairs, scooters, and other aids are often provided but must be operated carefully to avoid injury. Without enough visual acuity, this process can become significantly more challenging for both the disabled family member and their guardian.
Planning ahead for visual cues
When you travel, you are exposed to different cultures and societal standards. As such, families with disability need to be prepared to deal with different types of signages and road layouts. Good vision is a must when navigating these things, especially if you’re seeking symbols that indicate wheelchair accessibility, hazards, directions, and potential alerts that can direct you to inclusive spaces and help.
This can be especially helpful when you are traveling for medical tourism. Although many symbols in healthcare are standardized, you still want to ensure you are ready to find relevant cues for your needs. Continuity of care is notably more complicated in the world of medical tourism, so the last thing you want is a sudden need for an updated prescription or an inability to find your way around on top of any language barrier.
Conclusion
Eye care is key for the whole family, and this need only increases when you are responsible for taking care of a disabled member. As such, you must consider regular eye care and annual eye check-ups (along with other routine medical