International Research on the Impact of Vision Rehabilitation and Habilitation

As part of our work on strengthening the evidence base for post-clinical (or community) support for people with vision impairment, Vision Collaborative Scotland is working with the University of Melbourne and Glasgow Caledonian University on ground-breaking research into the effectiveness of vision rehabilitation and habilitation.

The Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) research study collects data on the impact of vision rehabilitation and habilitation on people living with vision impairment in Scotland. The study administers a series of validated questionnaires to collect data specifically on the impact of therapy on quality of life, anxiety, depression, and falls. Vision impaired people are recruited through their local service provider and data is collected before and after intervention. 

This international research is the first known piece of research to be conducted internationally on Vision Habilitation and Rehabilitation and the impact of vision on quality of life. The study has the potential to significantly impact service delivery and drive service change for the foreseeable future. 

The study has been funded by Vision Collaborative Scotland member organisations Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sight Scotland. The research is running throughout 2025, and publication is expected by April 2026.