Low Vision Info

What are Telescopic Lenses and Who Benefits from Wearing Them?

Posted on: Jan 11, 2016

It seems that those with retinal disorders like macular degeneration are very familiar with the need for magnification for close up work – like reading, writing bills, and performing hobbies.  Reading magnifiers are usually the first visual aid obtained by those with low vision.   However, there is less awareness for the need to magnify distance […]

Read This Article

What Affects Vision Clarity?

Posted on: Jan 04, 2016

Have you noticed that on some days your vision is more clear and on other days the blurriness seems to be worse?   One person with early dry AMD shares his experience, “Sometimes my vision is as clear as can be, but on some days (seems to be more on less sunny days with lots of […]

Read This Article

Hiding One’s Low Vision

Posted on: Dec 07, 2015

My 89 year old father-in-law has wet macular degeneration in both eyes. He has trouble reading when he is away from home if he doesn’t bring his lighted magnifier with him. But he won’t. So when he is at a medical office, store, restaurant, etc and he has to read or look at a form […]

Read This Article

Should You Be Using a White Cane?

Posted on: Dec 02, 2015

My father-in-law who has wet AMD in both eyes has blind spots, loss of depth perception and loss of contrast sensitivity just like other patients with advanced AMD. These visual losses have compromised his safety and his mobility. We have suggested that he see a mobility specialist and get trained in the use of a […]

Read This Article

Digital Retina Exam Without Dilation

Posted on: Nov 13, 2015

At my most recent yearly eye exam I was asked if I wanted to pay more and not have my eyes dilated for the retinal exam.  I declined, had my eyes dilated and all was well.  Next time I’m asked that question, I may give a different answer.  That’s because there’s lots more reasons to […]

Read This Article

Declining Depth Perception

Posted on: Nov 09, 2015

When someone has been diagnosed with macular degeneration the most common symptom that comes to mind is the loss of straight ahead or the center part of one’s vision.  This vision loss affects one’s ability to read or to recognize a familiar face.  But there are other changes that can also affect one’s quality of […]

Read This Article

SightRisk – A New AMD Risk Assessment Tool

Posted on: Oct 19, 2015

There are many established risk factors for developing macular degeneration.  However, up until now there has not been a tool to analyze not only one’s risk factors, like age, gender, lifestyle and family history, but also to combine that information with clinical reports, such as the presence of macular drusen or the density of the […]

Read This Article

Screens, Eye Strain and Sleep

Posted on: Oct 14, 2015

Today’s electronic screens from flat TVs to tablets to smart phones all emit blue light.   Light, and especially blue light contributes to eye strain, the development of macular degeneration and to sleep disturbances.   Sleep Disturbances According to Harvard Medical School’s  Health Publications, “ …not all colors of light have the same effect.  Blue wavelengths […]

Read This Article

Lutein can Help your Eyes

Posted on: Oct 10, 2015

Not only does lutein help to keep our brain healthy, but the antioxidant is also critical in safeguarding our eyes as we age. Research suggests that a daily dose of dietary supplements, including this plant extract, is critical in reducing the risks of chronic eye disease. When consumed, these beneficial nutrients (found in foods such […]

Read This Article

All Relative

Posted on: Oct 06, 2015

Sometimes change is the hardest thing to agree with. As a person with a visual impairment sometimes I get so comfortable in my rut that I cannot see the good things staring at me. Early in the cell phone craze I got one of the newfangled Razor flip phones. I was cutting edge at the […]

Read This Article