Low Vision Rehabilitation, Deafblind International and Creating a Continuum Of Care In Ophthalmology

Dr. Walter Wittich discusses his role as chair of Deafblind International Research Network, highlighting the purpose of the organization and how it is serving people across the globe. Dr. Wittich further explores the realm of low vision rehabilitation, including his journey in the field, current gaps in communication and training, and what the future of the field might look like and what unique challenges it may face

About the Guest:

Dr. Walter Wittich is an Associate Professor at the School of Optometry at the University of Montreal, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His research focuses on the rehabilitation of older adults with combined vision and hearing loss. Following his Master’s in Psychology (Concordia University) and a PhD in Visual Neuroscience (McGill University), he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in audiology at the University of Montreal. Coming from a background in age-related vision loss, he now conducts research in dual sensory impairment and acquired deaf-blindness. His research domains include basic sensory science, as well as medical, psychosocial, and rehabilitation approaches to sensory loss, where he has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Walter is the inaugural chair of the Deafblind International Research Network and chair of the Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation axis of the Quebec Vision Health Research Network, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is Quebec’s first Certified Low Vision Therapist.