"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.