Consultation and Diagnostics for Visual Impairments After Cancer
Vision plays a crucial role in everyday life. Cancer and its treatments can sometimes cause visual impairments in children and adolescents. Unusual behavior or difficulties in daily activities may indicate (as yet undetected) vision disorder. Signs of this may include:
- Frequent stumbling or knocking over objects
- Holding books or screens very close to the face
- Struggles with reading, drawing, or crafting
These visual difficulties can negatively impact child development, leading to learning and concentration issues in school. With support from the Brigitte and Dr. Konstanze Wegener Foundation, we aim to study vision and visual perception in children and adolescents who have overcome cancer. We want to:
- Assess visual abilities after cancer treatment
- Identify possible vision-related difficulties
- Determine if children benefit from assistive tools or support measures
To do this, we offer functional vision diagnostics and vision-related consultation, acting as a complementary examination to visits with an ophthalmologist or orthoptist. The entire project is scientifically monitored by the Pediatric Research Network. Since November 2022, we have set up a specialized research clinic near University Hospital Essen, and since March 2023, the Research Clinic for Vision has officially been open.
Who Can Participate?
Children and adolescents who:
- Are 5 to 18 years old and in (long-term) follow-up care after cancer
- Have already undergone ophthalmological and orthoptic pre-examinations
- Experience vision-related difficulties in daily life or wish to have their vision assessed
Possible Signs of Vision Issues:
- Frequent stumbling, especially over objects
- Little interest in picture books
- Holding books, screens, or objects very close
- Difficulties with reading
- Struggles to navigate worksheets
- Inaccurate reaching for objects
How We Conduct Diagnostics
We perform functional vision and visual perception testing, including:
- Assessing visual acuity, contrast vision, and color vision using various vision tests
- Checking for links between observed difficulties and vision problems
- Testing support options, such as assistive tools to improve daily activities
At the end of the process, families receive a detailed written report summarizing the findings.
Do You Have Questions About Your Child’s Vision?
Feel free to contact us by email or phone to schedule a consultation.
Phone: 0201 749 496 21
Email: kontakt@forschungsambulanz-sehen.de
Address:
Research Clinic for Vision
Cranachstraße 56
45147 Essen
Sie finden uns in der Cranachstraße 56, 45147 Essen, fußläufig zum Universitätsklinikum. Das Angebot ist kostenfrei.
Rebecca Kristiment
