Low Vision Evaluations
Once you have received a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor may inform you a corrective prescription alone will not be enough to provide optimal eyesight.
In this case, you may be considered for a low vision evaluation to determine if any additional devices would further improve your vision. We offer the most advanced devices to enhance and improve sight beyond what may be achieved by wearing glasses or contact lenses alone.
Examples of some low vision devices we offer are handheld and stand magnifiers, telescopes and reverse telescopes, prism half-eyeglasses, CCTV’s, and much more. We provide training and education on these devices with the goal of increasing overall function and improving quality of life.
Conditions like Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Cataracts can cause visual problems ordinary glasses or contact lenses cannot correct. Help is available.
Following a complete eye examination and treatment of any underlying disease or condition causing the decrease in vision, a thorough Low Vision Evaluation can be conducted. During this examination, close attention is given to the effects of decreased vision on the patient’s lifestyle and a plan is designed to best meet your needs and goals. We believe in a team approach and work closely with all your doctors to help you achieve greater independence.
Some of the more common conditions which could lead to low vision include:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – A disease which progressively decreases central vision. AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in persons over age 50 and is second only to diabetes as the leading cause of legal blindness in the 45-to 64-year-old age group.
- Cataracts – Scarring or perforation from corneal ulceration is a major cause of legal blindness throughout the world.
- Diabetes Mellitus – A chronic disorder characterized by a lack of insulin secretion and/or increased cellular resistance to insulin. The main ocular problems stem from changes in the blood vessels of the eye which may weaken, hemorrhage, and lead to retinal detachment. Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of legal blindness in the United States.
- Glaucoma – A group of ocular diseases with various causes in which there is an increase in the intraocular pressure (IOP) beyond what the eye can tolerate. This leads to structural and functional changes to ocular tissues and progressive loss of vision. Glaucoma is the third most common cause of legal blindness in the United States.
- Keratoconus – A developmental or dystrophic deformity of the cornea in which it becomes cone-shaped, due to a thinning and stretching of the tissue in its central area. Keratoconus usually manifests itself during puberty, is usually bilateral, and is more common in women than men.
- Retinal Detachment – A condition where the retina is separated from its supporting tissues. Thus, the retina receives no nourishment and a blind area develops in the field of vision corresponding to the area of detachment. Retinal detachment can result from trauma as wellas from some types of ocular and systemic diseases.
- Retinitis Pigmentosa – A group of inherited retinal pigmentary degenerations. Night blindness and a gradual constriction of the field of view is the result, often accompanied by photophobia. Cataracts and glaucoma can be secondary complications as well.