Vision Rehabilitation

Dr. Boyer sees a patient to make the most of their remaining vision.

Vision rehabilitation and occupational therapy services

There are many tools available to assist you when vision loss impacts your daily life. The Vision Rehabilitation Center at OHSU Casey Eye Institute uses treatments and education for adults and children to make the most of your remaining vision. 

We are a team of experienced and compassionate professionals who are experts in low vision assessment. We work with you to develop a plan to manage important daily activities with tools, aides, training and therapy so you feel empowered to adjust to your visual challenges and maintain a high quality of life.  

Our expertise

Our specialists are experts in vision rehabilitation to help you manage your condition. We offer:  

  • The only clinical program in Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest that offers assessment and treatment planning for the effects of vision loss. 

  • A team of experts that include optometrists and a certified occupational and low vision therapist who work together to give you the best possible vision options. 

  • State-of-the-art tools to assess your vision to determine the rehabilitation you may need. 

  • The latest assistive technology available with onsite demonstration and training to reduce your visual challenges. 

  • Compassionate, supportive care, include a vision loss support group and a dedicated social worker to help you and your family adjust to vision loss. 

Our providers

    • Appointments and titles

      • Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
    • Expertise

      • Ophthalmology
      • Vision Rehabilitation/Low Vision
    • Appointments and titles

      • Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
    • Expertise

      • Optometry
      • Low Vision Rehabilitation
    • Appointments and titles

      • Occupational Therapist, Casey Eye Institute, School of Medicine
    • Expertise

      • Ophthalmology
      • Vision Rehabilitation/Low Vision

Collaborative care

Many eye specialists at OHSU Casey Eye Institute and from the community refer their patients to us. We often work with people who are referred for conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, neuro-ophthalmological conditions, inherited retinal conditions, medical contact lenses and more.  

Dr. Labrum examines a patient in the Vision Rehabilitation Center.

Treatments

Together, vision rehabilitation and occupational therapy may help you find ways to address the impact of vision loss and improve your ability to do activities such as reading, cooking, driving and more. Some examples of treatments include: 

  • If you have difficulty reading books or magazines, a treatment could be to use a device that changes your reading light so there is greater contrast of the words on paper so you can see them more clearly.  

  • If you lost your driver's license, a treatment could be to use DMV-authorized driving glasses that contain a tiny telescopic magnifier in one of the eyeglass lenses so you can see well enough to drive. 

  • If you have double vision while reading, you may benefit from having a prism placed on your reading glasses, which allow you to focus your eyes and read without double vision. 

An example of a visual aide to help read
An example of a visual aide that people can use to help read when they experience vision loss.

Honoring Sigrid Button

Headshot photo of Sigrid Button smiling at the camera

Long-time Casey Eye Institute Chief Executive, Sigrid Button, cared about people. Deeply. She especially cared about those who had experienced vison loss. It mattered to her that no one would be denied respectful and meaningful vision support throughout their lives.

Through her pioneering efforts and unshakeable advocacy, the Casey Eye Institute’s Vision Rehabilitation grew and today remains as the most physician-requested vision rehabilitation referral program in the Pacific Northwest. Because of her, the quality of life for thousands of Oregonians living with vision impairment has been enhanced. Her legacy of uplifting others continues today through Vision Rehabilitation at the Casey Eye Institute.

Casey's occupational therapist understands low vision and helps others navigate their own vision challenges

Kathryn Marxen-Simonson helps a patient learn to navigate with visual aids.

Local TV station KATU News aired a story featuring the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center's occupational therapist, Kathryn Marxen-Simonson, and one of her cliets, View the video.