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Abstract
Objective: To identify referral criteria and barriers perceived by optometrists for the rehabilitation of people with low vision in Santander. Methods: Cross-sectional study, which included 82 optometrists from municipalities of Santander, selected by purposive sampling. A questionnaire with 36 questions was designed to collect data that are reported using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 47.5% of the professionals are clear about the level of visual acuity to classify a person with low vision. The main barriers identified for access to low vision services
were: the referral process within the health system is cumbersome (74.39%), lack of services nearby (57.31%) and
considering that patients cannot afford the aids (48.78%). Discussion: It is necessary to strengthen the training of
optometrists to improve the processes of identification, care and rehabilitation. Conclusions: It is important to
prioritize visual impairment in Santander in order to strengthen the health care network.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Diana Cristina Palencia-Flórez, María del Pilar Oviedo-Cáceres , Karen Natalia Arias-Pineda, Laura Guisasola-Valencia