Envision University’s East Conference Shapes Low Vision Rehabilitation Practices | Envision Blog

Envision University’s East Conference Shapes Low Vision Rehabilitation Practices

By Beth Walker • Apr 26, 2024
Luis, Sarika and Jeremy standing outside Salus University.

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Envision University (EU) Conference East is a vital nexus for professionals in the field of vision rehabilitation seeking to explore innovative solutions and practices that help improve the quality of life of people with vision loss. This year's conference in April was held at Salus University campus in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and was co-hosted with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center. There were 120 attendees from 22 states and Puerto Rico! Professionals in attendance included optometrists, occupational therapists, low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, teachers of the visually impaired, vision rehabilitation therapists and PhD scientists. Sarika Gopalakrishnan, PhD, FAAO, and Jeremy Barton, PhD, research fellows at our Envision Research Institute, both presented at this year's conference, along with Andra Mies, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Envision. 

“The presentations and speakers at the Envision conference gave me excellent insight into the field of low vision rehabilitation,” shared Barton. “Some of the presentations even provided me with some personal benefit, such as showing me some devices that could help with my own visual impairment! It was a joy to meet so many people that are truly passionate about helping people who are blind and visually impaired.” 

Gopalakrishnan also shared her thoughts on the conference, stating, “I had a fantastic experience at the Envision East conference. I had a wonderful time with Dr. Gang Luo, an Associate Scientist at the Schepens Eye Institute and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He shared his opinion about my research work and provided feedback on the augmented reality devices that I'm working with!” 

The sessions at EU Conference East aren't just informative; they're catalysts for meaningful discussion. For example, a session on "Innovative Technology for Treating Vision Loss," sparked lively discussions about finding the right balance between what patients want and what they're willing to try, as well as how vision rehabilitation experts can champion the development and introduction of new technologies and treatments for people with vision loss. Similarly, discussions from a session on "The Success-Oriented Approach for Cognitive Impairment and Depression" shed light on the crucial role of addressing mental health challenges in vision rehabilitation outcomes. 

“I appreciated the variety of courses offered at this year's conference,” shared Andra Mies, Occupational Therapist at Envision. “I learned a lot more about dry eye and monocular vision and how it impacts people who are blind or visually impaired. Subjects such as this are often not addressed frequently, and I appreciated having discussions and further insight on these important topics. I had excellent collaboration with other professionals from around the country.” 

Michael Epp, Manager of Professional Communication at Envision, shared, “I think what makes our conference stand out is that we're the only conference where clinicians and researchers come together. This collaboration is crucial for driving progress in low vision rehabilitation, helping to develop new technologies and care approaches grounded in solid scientific research." 

Discussions that happen among attendees between sessions, during breaks and after-hours lead to new connections, innovations and sharing among experts from across the country, from how a particular clinic is meeting certain challenges to the connections made in moving research projects forward and how these projects can positively impact clinic care models.  

EU Conference East isn't just about sharing knowledge—it's about forging connections, driving innovation, and charting the course for the future of vision rehabilitation. To learn more about Envision University and Conference, visit this link.