Orientation and mobility training for adults with low vision.
BACKGROUND
Orientation and mobility (O&M) training is provided to people who are visually impaired to help them maintain travel independence, teaching them new orientation and mobility skills to compensate for reduced visual information.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review was to assess the effects of orientation and mobility training, with or without associated devices, for adults with low vision.


METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials - CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group trials register) (Issue 3 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to August 2002), EMBASE (1980 to September 2002) and LILACS (September 2002) and the reference lists of articles.


METHODS
We planned to include randomised or quasi-randomised trials comparing orientation and mobility training with no training in adults with low vision.


METHODS
Two reviewers independently assessed the search results for eligibility.


RESULTS
No studies were found that satisfied the inclusion criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
We could not find any controlled trials on the effects of orientation and mobility training for adults with low vision. As a premise to future trials, orientation and mobility instructors and scientists should reach a consensus and develop valid measures of mobility performance which are both reliable and meaningful to people with low vision.
Virgili
G
G
Eye Clinic II, Department Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgical Sciences, University of Florence, Via le Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy, 50134.
Rubin
G
G
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D009949:Orientation; D014195:Travel; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000534:rehabilitation*