| Low vision eye doctors help legally blind to see |
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Members of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving. By Elena Lombardi
 Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.” Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquerque, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more easily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. Neither Donald nor Gonzalo knew that a low vision optometrist could help with some of those issues. “In some states, Bioptic Telescopic Glasses can be used to pass the vision test for driving”, say Dr. Richard J. Shuldiner, a California Low Vision optometrist. “This can allow some with conditions like macular degeneration to continue driving”. “Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the television better!” Dr. Shuldiner also provided special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read. People don’t know that there are doctors who are very experienced in low vision care. Dr. Dulce Walker, New Mexico, and the other doctors listed below are some of only a handful of optometrists willing to work with the visually impaired. “Not many doctors like to work with people who are often upset and anxious” says Dr. Walker. "I love to see their faces light up when they see again.” Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images. When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it impossible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the driver's vision test. The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and improper nutrition. Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of progression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins. A new, proprietary supplement based on the scientific studies is available from these doctors. Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type is more aggressive and results in more dramatic vision loss. It involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be sealed with hot or cold laser. Newer treatments, such as Macugen, are injections to prevent leakage. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning,” says Dr. Shuldiner. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watching television, seeing faces, playing bridge… we work with whatever is on the person's “wish list”. “Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000”, says Dr. Shuldiner, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass”. Reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers are under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. The following doctors are very experienced in working with low vision patients, are members of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists and are happy to speak with you: Richard J. Shuldiner, OD, FAAO Dulce Walker, OD Edward Paul, OD, PhD W. Jarrod Long, OD James Reedstrom, OD Todd Winkler, OD David Armstrong, OD Brian Saunders, OD Marc Gannon, OD, FAAO Ross Cusic, OD Sheldon Smith, OD Yanna Nachtigall, OD Larry Chism, OD Burt Worrell, OD & Lisa Limtiaco, OD California (Northern) 866 451 2020 Dirk Gray, OD Kansas 877 393 0025 Robert Stamm, OD Nebraska 877 393 0025 Errol Rummel, OD, FAAO New Jersey 888 838 0188 Randolph Kinkade, OD New England States 877 567 3133 |