Discontinued blog

I am no longer adding posts to this blog. Please go to my blog lowvisionhelp.blogspot.com for information on how persons with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other causes of vision loss can be helped special low vision glasses. When you have done that give me a call (toll free 866 321-2030) and we'll talk about your condition. I will schedule a low vision appointment only if I feel that I can help you achieve your goals.

"I Finally Received My Driver's License"

Margot Templeton came to me in June of 2009. Her driver's license was about to expire and she knew that she would be unable to renew it due to her vision problem. Mrs. Templeton lost her vision completely, in the right eye, due to a central retinal vein occlusion. Her vision in the left is reduced to about 20/80 from retinal hemorrhaging. A thorough low vision evaluation proved that with the use of a 2.2X bioptic telescopic prescription she would be able to meet the Virginia DMV requirements to drive wearing the bioptic glasses.

Mrs. Templeton returned to see me in September, after using the telescopic glasses for 2 months. At that time I was able to certify her to obtain a driver's license using the bioptics.

Due to some confusion at her local DMV office I needed to make a few phone calls on her behalf. This week I received a note from her announcing that she has received the license.

Mrs. Templeton wrote:

Dear Dr. Armstrong,

  Finally received my driver's license yesterday.

  Peggy and a young man quizzed me, while I sat in the passenger seat, about what I could see. Then Peggy asked me to drive and identify anything my vision allowed.

  The end result--They were amazed at how well I could see.

  Just wish to thank you for what you do--help people like me to regain a sense of freedom by being able to drive again.

                                                  Sincerely,

                                                  Margot Templeton

Many people with vision loss like Mrs. Templeton can be helped to return to driving, reading, hobbies, computer use and other visual tasks through the use of properly prescribed low vision glasses.

If you have had to give up some activities that you have enjoyed give me a call. We will talk about your vision and your goals. I'll ask you questions to determine if I can help you. I will be honest with you. If I do not think that I can help I will not schedule an appointment. Only if I feel that I can help you will I schedule an appointment for a low vision evaluation. There is no charge for the call or the telephone consultation. Call me at 1-866 321-2030.

"Dr. Armstrong, I'm doing great!"

I spoke with Phyllis Jamison yesterday. She wanted to let me know how well she is doing with her new low vision glasses. She has had them for a month.

Phyllis has had diabetes for years and has required laser treatment to her left eye in hopes of slowing vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. In addition to that, she has been treated for a retinal detachment in the right eye. The vision is much poorer in Phyllis' left eye. "I see almost nothing with my left eye" she told me.

When she came to me she was seeing only about 20/120 with the right and much poorer with the left eye. She had no glasses and had to sit about 4 feet from her TV to watch. She was not able to read her large print Bible or anything else. Most of all she wanted to be able to go back to driving.

I was able to prescribe special low vision glasses that allow Phyllis to read a large print Bible easily and she can also read the newspaper. Phyllis told me yesterday that she is now reading her church lessons easily and when she looks at photos with the glasses they have much more color than before.

I also prescribed telescopic glasses that Phyllis will be able to use for driving when she has met the DMV's requirement of using them for 2 months in order to get used to them. In the meantime, she told me that with them she can recognize her friends faces across the church sanctuary and she can read the words on her TV. Now she does not have to sit so close to the screen.

"All in all, Dr. Armstrong, they are wonderful.  I am ecstatic about them. I am doing great with my special glasses. I have been bragging about you, Dr. Armstrong".

Phyllis Jamison is an example of someone who has benefited from low vision glasses. In addition to helping those with diabetic retinopathy, like Phyllis, they often help people with macular degeneration, Stargardts Disease, inoperable cataracts, glaucoma and many other conditions which cause reduced vision.

If you have a vision loss and would like to go back to reading, driving or some other activities that you are unable to do please give me a call. I will be happy to talk with you and after a few minutes of questioning I will tell you if I can help. There is no charge to speak with me or for the call. Call me toll free 866 321-2030.

Bioptic Glasses and Driving

When I talk with people who have experienced a vision loss from eye disease I always ask what they would like to be able to do if I am able to help them. A large number would like to return to driving. Some have given up driving voluntarily and others have been unable to meet the requirements of the DMV and have lost their license. In either case they have lost their independence. They are now dependant on others to help them do the simplest of things, like a trip to the grocery store or post office or church.


Let me explain a bit about driving with low vision glasses. Bioptic telescopic glasses have small telescopes imbedded in the upper part of the regular lens. The person's eyeglass prescription is in the telescope as well as the regular lens. The telescope is used to spot things that need to be seen better like traffic signals, signs, other cars, people, etc. The person just lowers their chin a little, takes a quick look through the telescope and then goes back to driving with the main lens of the glasses, called the carrier lens. You will see examples of my patients wearing bioptic telescopes as I begin to post actual patient experiences and photos.

The laws are different in each state regarding driving with bioptic telescopes. Some allow persons to be licensed to drive with these special glasses and some states do not. All states will allow you to drive with the telescopic glasses if you already have a valid license. If you are wondering about your state's regulations you can check with the DMV or call me toll free and I'll tell you what your state allows and we can talk about whether you are likely to be able to meet the requirements. Call me at 1 866 321-2030. There is no charge for the call or the consultation.

My state, Virginia, is one of the states that issues a special driver's license for persons requiring bioptic telescopic glasses. Our DMV requires at least 20/200 in the better eye with the normal eyeglass lenses and improved to 20/70 with the bioptic. There is also a requirement of 150 degrees of peripheral vision (visual field). Once the person obtains the bioptic glasses they must use them daily for 2 months and then return to the low vision doctor for certification that they meet the above requirements.

If you think that you might require this type of license do not wait until the last minute. Call for an appointment 4 or 5 months in advance. That will allow time to have the low vision evaluation, receive the glasses and use them for the required 2 months before your license expires.

Many people have returned to safe driving by using bioptic telescopic glasses. Perhaps you could become one of them.

Diabetic Retinopathy Patients Helped to Continue Enjoying Music

Patients with low vision caused by diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases often tell me that they have had to give up playing instruments or singing because they cannot read the music. Some have used a copier to enlarge the music, but that is cumbersome and does not always help.

I have often been able to help people read the music by using low vision glasses. There are several ways to do that, depending on how far they are from the music, if it is at eye level or below and the nature of their vision problem. That is all important information to bring to the low vision evaluation.

Here are some examples of actual patients and how they were helped to read their music and keep playing or singing.

1. Patient T.O., low vision caused by macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Has had corneal transplants in both eyes. T.O. is a serious musician. He plays trombone in 2 bands and was having problems reading the music. I prescribed a telemicroscope. Small telescopes in the lower part of the eyeglass lenses, in the bifocal position, that focus at the distance of his music stand. T.O. measured the distance from his eyes to the music so I could calculate the proper lens power.

2. Patient T.C., has low vision caused by diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. T.C. sings and plays the piano. She was asking for help in seeing her music. I prescribed wide angle telemicroscopic glasses. T.C. reports that "she can see the music perfectly at 19 inches". She is also able to thread a needle and read books with them.

3. Patient D.C., low vision caused by optic neuropathy: I prescribed wide angle telescopic glasses that allow her to watch television and other distance activities. When D.C. sings in the church choir she attaches a lens cap over the telescope. The cap allows her to hold her music below eye level and read it well. She is able to look at the choir director by looking through the top of the glasses. She says "It allows me to sing in the choir and hold my music lower so I can see the director and my voice is not smothered by the book being held so close in front of my face."

4. Patient M.P., had given up playing the piano due to a vision loss caused by Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. I prescribed bioptic telescopic glasses that allow her to drive and watch sports events. When M.P. wants to play the piano she has a small lens that she fits over the telescope allowing her to focus on the music.

There are many ways to help patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases to keep enjoying their music as well as hobbies and other activities that are important to them. Be sure to mention these activities when you call for the free telephone consultation

Offering Help To Persons With Diabetic Retinopathy

As I begin this new blog I want to explain how I intend to use it to inform persons suffering vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.  Diabetic eye disease is one of the top 2 or 3 causes of blindness in the United States. In my low vision optometric practice I often see people with this serious eye disease and am well aware of the consequences they face due to their vision loss.  Losing driving priviledges, not being able to read or use a computer and difficulty recognizing friends and family members are just a few of the problems.  The end result of this is often a loss of independance which can be very difficult to accept.

As I add posts to this blog I will be showing real life examples of people who I have helped to function better and to return to some of the important activities that they have given up.  I will give short histories along with quotes from the patients illustrating the problems that they have experienced and how they are able to benefit from the low vision glasses and other devices that I have prescribed for them.

My strategy for helping people with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other diseases causing vision loss involves several steps:

1. A telephone interview.  I want to be as sure as possible that I will be able to help before I schedule a low vision evaluation.  Call me toll free 866 321-2030.  Leave your name and phone number and I will call you back for a telephone interview at no charge.  I'll ask you a few questions about your vision and your goals.  I will offer you an appointment only if I feel there is a very good possibility that I can help you.  I do not want to take your time and money and then disappoint you.  I'll explain to you what to expect from the low vision evaluation and what the fees may be.
2. A thorough low vision evaluation.  This is very different that a regular, comprehensive eye exam.  You and I will be together for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I will not be evaluating the health of your eyes.  Your present eye doctor will continue to do that.  I will evaluate your vision using various devices including telescopic and microscopic glasses.  I will determine the amount of magnification that will help you achieve your goals and also what is the best type of device to help you.  In addition to low vision glasses we consider hand magnifiers and electronic maginfiers.  Each type of device has it's own features and uses and often more than one device is recommended.
3. Providing the low vision devices.  I'll order the low vision glasses or other devices that will help you.  Your eyeglass prescription will be included in any low vision glasses and the special lenses will be manufactured by a laboratory specializing in this type of glasses.  The laboratory has been making these glasses for over 40 years.
4. Upon receipt of the glasses from the laboratory I'll personally verify that they have been properly manufactured to your correct prescription.  Then we will schedule your visit to receive the glasses.
5. Dispensing the special glasses.  I will adjust the glasses to fit you properly.  Then I will verify that you are able to see with them as you did at the evaluation.  I will teach you how to use them and how to get used to them.  I will be sure that you can see the benefit of the glasses.  If you do not feel that they will help you do not have to take them.  You will be given written instructions to take with you.
6. Follow up.  I want you to do well.  If you have any questions as you are getting used to the glasses you may call me toll free.  I will be happy to help and am usually able to do so over the phone, without another visit to the office.

I encourage me to call me for a telephone interview.  I will be happy to speak with you and look forward to your call.  Toll free 866 321-2030