August Colenbrander
Affiliate Senior Scientist
Degrees: MD (Leyden University, Netherlands)
PhD (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
PhD (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
My primary clinical interest, as an ophthalmologist, is in Vision Rehabilitation, i.e. in enhancing “How the PERSON functions”, even if “How the EYEs function” cannot be improved.
For 25 years I directed the Vision Rehabilitation service at California Pacific Medical Center. I was a founding board member of the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation. For 10 years I represented the specialty of Vision Rehabilitation on the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Ophthalmology.
My current interest is in the mechanisms of visual perception and in developing simple screening tools for early detection of vision problems. Click COLENBRANDER LAB for an overview.
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Contact Information
Journal Articles
. (2000). Topographic Measurements of Low Contrast Letter Recognition as as a tool for diagnosis and vision rehabilitation. Vision Rehabilitation.
. (1999). Use your PC to quickly map remaining vision after foveal vision loss. Perimetry Update 1998/1999,, 307–316.
. (1996). Quick assessment of the topography of macular vision loss using a new PC-based field analyzer. Proc. Of The Int'l Low Vision Conference.
. (1994). Comparison of three ways to assess residual vision after macular vision loss. Low Vision-Research And New Developments In Rehabilitation", Kooijman Ac Et Al.(Eds.), 51–58.
. (1994). Mapping the topography of residual vision after macular vision loss. Low Vision - Research And New Developments In Rehabilitation., 59–67.
. (1993). The assessment of residual vision in patients with maculopathies. Non-invasive assessment of the visual system. {Osa} Technical Digest, 3, 274–277.
Colenbrander lab
To explore vision-related functioning as it relates to Vision Rehabilitation.
This involves the development of
= insights into vision-related functioning and complex vision-related behaviors,
as well as
= the...
My Vision on Vision
These short chapters summarize insights that I have gained from more than four decades working in vision rehabilitation.
They provide a broader perspective that may be missing in our daily routines, when focused on specific details.
Vision involves much more than...
Functional Assessment - Visual Fields
Most patients are unaware of their visual field defects and scotomata, be it from AMD, from glaucoma, from RP, or from other causes.
Dr. Colenbrander developed an improved functional scoring system for visual fields, as part of the Functional Vision Score system (see...
Functional Assessment - Visual Acuity
Visual acuity is a mainstay for the assessment of “How the EYE functions”. Traditional, non-logarithmic, visual acuity charts, however, are inaccurate for visual acuities worse than 20/100.
Functional Assessment - Reading
Difficulty reading is the most common complaint of low vision patients. It is the Activity of Daily Living that is most closely related to visual acuity, but involves many additional factors beyond.
Print SIZE provides an assessment (visual acuity) of "How the EYE...
Functional Assessment - Contrast Sensitivity
For eye doctors measuring contrast sensitivity loss during routine eye exams is not a priority, since contrast losses are not disease specific and do not guide treatment decisions.
For the patient, on the other hand, knowledge about contrast losses, of which they are...
Functional Assessment - Book Chapters
Categorization of visual functioning requires appropriate measurement methods. Dr. Colenbrander has discussed the principles of functional assessment in several book chapters.
Measuring Vision and Vision Loss,...
Functional Assessment - Guidelines and Reports
Combining his interests in classification and in vision rehabilitation, Dr. Colenbrander has promoted a better understanding of the various aspects of vision loss, their causes, and above all their consequences for the person.
Classification and Coding Projects
One of Dr Colenbrander's persistent interests has been in classification and coding. In the 1960’s he participated in the development of a new ophthalmic coding system in the Netherlands.
In the 1970’s, working with the WHO (World Health organization), the ICO ...