Making the Most of Your Vision

Recently I received an email from an elderly man with wet macular degeneration inquiring about participating in a clinical trial with the hopes of it improving his eye sight. His email was prompted by his desire to be able to see better and to do daily activities with less frustration. When I asked if he had ever been referred to any low vision rehab, he stated that his eye doctor had never mentioned this service.

His email reminded me of a call I had at work as an RN from a patient who was making an appointment for an eye injection for his wet AMD. While I was getting his information I casually asked if his retina doctor had referred him to our low vision clinic. Even though the man had been a patient for well over a year, his eye doctor had never offered nor mentioned this vital service.

My father-in-law who had dry then wet AMD with progressive vision loss was never referred to a low vision clinic. His resistance to being evaluated by this service stemmed from the fact that his retina doctor never mentioned it nor provided information on how it could benefit his vision.

American Academy of Ophthalmology Initiative in Vision Rehabilitation

That's why I was so pleased to see the American Academy of Ophthalmology Initiative in Vision Rehabilitation.

Joseph Fontenot, MD, Chair of the Academy’s Vision Rehabilitation committee, produced a six-minute video, titled “There is Something Else You Can Do.” David W. Parke II, MD, Academy CEO, explains in this video the impact of vision loss on the individual and the responsibility of the ophthalmologist to refer patients to low vision rehabilitation.

When is the Best Time to Be Evaluated?

Low vision services evaluates how one sees, designs and prescribes specialized glasses that do more than magnify, offers a variety of low vision aids and trains a person on how to maximize one's usable vision.

This life changing service is not a "last resort" effort when one's vision has seriously deteriorated, but rather an early intervention to give one the skills to manage life easier and to live independently with more confidence.

Find out how you or a loved one can benefit from a referral to low vision rehabilitation ...

How to Make the Most of Your Vision

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com

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