Optical aids for low vision: use of the Internet to guide teachers of the visually impaired.

Purposes: To describe and interpret teachers' opinions about and responsiveness to guidance on optical aids for low vision.

Methods: It was conducted a cross-sectional analytical study. The convenience, non-random sample consisted of 58 teachers from the public school network of the city of Campinas.

Assistive technology applied to education of students with visual impairment.

Objectives: Verify the application of assistive technology, especially information technology in the education of blind and low-vision students from the perceptions of their teachers.

Methods: Descriptive survey study in public schools in three municipalities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The sample comprised 134 teachers.

Use of optical aids by visually impaired students: social and cultural factors.

Purpose: To identify conceptions, social and cultural factors regarding the use of optical aids by visually impaired students and to present information to health and educational professionals.

Methods: Qualitative research using spontaneous theater (interactive theater modality based on improvisation) as research instrument. To analyze data, an adapted form of the collective subject discourse technique - procedures for organization of verbal data - was applied.

Causes of low vision and use of optical aids in the elderly.

Purpose: To determine the causes of low vision in an elderly population attended by a university visual rehabilitation service and to check for the use of prescribed optical aids.

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients aged 60 years or over attending for the first time a university low vision service in 2001. Ophthalmic reevaluation and interview were performed by means of a structured questionnaire in 2002.