When standard eye glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery cannot provide sharp sight and the impairment interferes with a person's ability to perform everyday activities, an individual is said to have low vision.
A low vision eye doctor understands high-powered optics and magnification plus has working knowledge of the multitude of special glasses, magnifiers, electronic and non-optical low vision devices that can help those with reduced vision. A low vision eye doctor understands how to work with patients and families who can be extremely upset, fearful, and even depressed. A low vision eye doctor has compassion and empathy for what the patient and family is going through as well as the knowledge, resources and experience to help them adjust to the difficult situation.
Over 1.6 million older Americans are affected with Macular Degeneration.
Eye diseases or conditions may be responsible for visual impairment. Some of the more common causes include:
If the reduced vision impairs the ability to do the tasks you want to do, then it is low vision.
A low vision examination is quite different from a regular eye examination. It is a longer examination usually lasting one hour or more. It is a functional vision examination; therefore medical tests such as dilation are usually omitted. The first part of the low vision examination is conversing with the patient to find out how the reduced vision is affecting their life. The "wish list" is created so the doctor understands what the patient's specific goals are. The second part is extensive vision testing. Careful refraction is performed to find out if a new "regular" eyeglass prescription will help. The doctor must determine the best form and level of magnification needed for the person to perform the desired tasks. Treatment plans may include telescopes, microscopes, and prisms, with varying levels of magnification and strength, therapeutic filters, non-optical options, and/or video magnification. Illumination levels must be determined as lighting plays a major role in vision. The goal is to effectively maximize the useable vision for activities of daily living.
The low vision evaluation will be covered by Medicare and/or insurance. Telescopic spectacles range approximately between $1000 and $3000. Microscope and Prismatic glasses used for near tasks range approximately between $500 and $1200. It is important to understand that low vision devices are "task specific." They are designed for the task the person wants to do. Therefore it may, and usually does, take more than one pair of glasses or magnifiers to handle the various tasks the patient wants to do. It is not unusual for a patient to need bioptic telescope glasses for outdoor travel and/or driving, full diameter telescopic glasses for television and microscope or prismatic glasses for reading. What is ordered depends upon the patient's wish list, commitment and financial resources.
It usually takes two to four weeks for specialized glasses to be fabricated because these are custom made devices. Arrangements can be made to have them sooner in some circumstances. If a person has a special event happening and needs the glasses, the lab will usually cooperate.
For certain conditions, vitamins may be the ONLY help. We will discuss vitamin therapy with you during your evaluation.
The free telephone interview is a way of limiting the time, expense and disappointment of people who probably cannot be helped by low vision care. We have determined that asking the right questions on the phone could determine if a patient was qualified for low vision services. During the free telephone interview, we will ask questions regarding vision, functional abilities, goals, motivation, health, and mobility to determine if an appointment is in the best interests of the caller.
During the evaluation, the patient will use actual low vision telescope, microscope and prismatic glasses on the tasks desired. The doctor and the patient will see that they work BEFORE they are ordered. This will be done again when the patient picks up the glasses. We never order glasses until the patient knows that they work.
Bioptic Telescopes (pictured left and right) provide all the benefits of a telescopic system while maintaining mobility. It is used for distant spotting and is excellent for the mobile patient whose visual demands are constantly changing. They are available in 1.7X, 2.2X, 2.0X and 4.0X. Wide Angle Bioptic Telescopes are available in 2.2X and 3.0X.
Full Diameter Telescopes (pictured center) are designed for distance tasks while the patient is stationary. They are especially suited for watching television, the Theatre, sporting events or any visual task done while the patient is stationary. They are available in 1.3X, 1.7X, 2.2X, 3.0X and 4.0X. Wide Angle is available in 2.2X and 3.0X.
Maple Lawn Eye Care Center's Bifocal and Full Diameter Microscopes are now available in LIGHTWEIGHT Metal Frames. Our variety of lens systems eliminate optical aberrations found with high magnifications.
Go Back