A 55-year-old trader with best-corrected visual acuity 20/50 cannot read markets on his computer or interpret hand signals due to optic atrophy. Is he a good candidate for vision rehabilitation?

• A. No, he is not a candidate
• B. Only if additional therapies are attempted
• C. Yes, because functional goals are unmet
• D. Not enough information to decide

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that vision rehabilitation focuses on enabling people to perform important tasks despite vision loss. It’s not about restoring perfect acuity, but about maximizing remaining vision and teaching adaptive strategies.

In this case, the trader has optic atrophy and a best-corrected acuity of 20/50, yet he cannot read markets on a computer or interpret hand signals. Those are critical work-related tasks, so his functional goals are unmet. Vision rehabilitation can help by teaching strategies and providing tools that work with his remaining vision—such as high-contrast or larger-print displays, screen magnification, text-to-speech or other assistive software, improved lighting, and training in efficient visual scanning or use of peripheral/familiar cues. Because these functional needs drive his daily functioning and independence, he is a good candidate for vision rehabilitation.