Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The appropriate technique to assist visually impaired patients involves placing their hand on your arm at the elbow, which is a common and effective method for guiding someone who has impaired vision. This approach allows the visually impaired individual to follow closely, gaining a sense of direction and movement that is more tangible. By holding onto the elbow, they can feel your movements and adjust accordingly, ensuring they feel secure and oriented in their environment.

This technique also helps maintain the patient’s independence while providing necessary assistance, as it allows them to navigate with their own pace and confidence. It establishes a physical connection that helps the patient understand when to turn or stop without needing constant verbal instructions, which might be confusing or overwhelming in certain situations.

While directing them verbally can help provide information, it may not effectively guide them physically, and using hand gestures may not convey the necessary information to someone who cannot see. Similarly, while a magnifying glass could be useful for someone with low vision, it does not assist with navigation and orientation, which is critical for visually impaired individuals in unfamiliar settings.