Centre for Sight Enhancement

Centre for Sight Enhancement (CSE)

Low Vision Services

Located within the School of Optometry's Optometry Clinic,  Low Vision Services provide a comprehensive range of vision rehabilitation services, including assessment, prescription, instruction and rehabilitation; information and referral for medical, social, educational, vocational and financial services; liaison with applicable government programs and services, and groups serving the low vision population; consultation with and referral to other specialty clinics within the School of Optometry and to community services; and basic and clinical research into various aspects of low vision.

Making an Appointment for a Low Vision Assessment

Appointments are required. To book an appointment, please contact us directly by telephone. Appointments by email are not feasible. Please contact the CSE clinic at: (519) 888-4708 or University of Waterloo extension 84708. Appointments can be booked directly by people with low vision or their advocates. Referrals are also accepted from ophthalmologists, optometrists, other rehabilitation professionals, or specialist teachers. Before an appointment is finalized, people will be asked to provide some preliminary background information to ensure that all of the necessary equipment, services and personnel are available the patient’s visit. For more information call the CSE at: (519) 888-4708 or University of Waterloo ext. 4708.

Hours of Operation

The Low Vision Clinic maintains the same hours as the rest of the School of Optometry Clinic. The Primary Care clinic operates daily 8:30am to 5:00pm. During the fall and winter terms, there are periods when the primary care, contact lens and dispensing areas offer evening hours. Clinical low vision appointments are scheduled for three days of the week during the teaching term (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) with two doctors seeing patients concurrently on most days. Tuesdays and Thursdays are generally reserved for case conferences, clinic tours, report writing, emergency follow-up, administration, teaching, vendor presentations, research, and committee work. The Rehabilitation Counsellor, Low Vision Therapist and High Technology Assessment specialists also use this time to follow-up with patients and to catch up on their administrative activities. Additional counselling appointments and/or partial assessments are often arranged during this time.