Economic evaluation of blind rehabilitation for veterans with macular diseases in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Purpose: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT) developed an outpatient low-vision programme for patients with macular diseases providing low-vision rehabilitation comparable to VA inpatient blind rehabilitation centres (BRCs). This programme targets veterans who do not need or chose not to participate in a comprehensive inpatient blind rehabilitation programme. We examined costs and consequences using veterans in LOVIT and comparable veterans in an inpatient BRC.

The Veterans Affairs Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT): design and methodology.

Background: Visual impairment is a major public health problem. Vision rehabilitation programs have the potential to restore independence and improve quality of life for persons with permanent vision loss, and few have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: The Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Vision Intervention Trial is a multicenter randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a new outpatient low vision rehabilitation program.