Loosely defined, low vision is the reduced sharpness of eyesight or a narrowing of the visual field. A person is said to have low vision when glasses, contact lenses, or surgery are ineffective or unavailable as a complete remedy. The condition can arise from any number of sources such as birth defect, disease, and the ageing process. Both children and adults can suffer from low vision, but seniors are especially susceptible. In the United States an estimated 1.5 million people have a condition called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). As our population ages this number is expected to increase. Incredibly, only a small fraction of people diagnosed with low vision benefit, in a meaningful way, from rehabilitation, product advice, or adequate follow-up care. This is clearly a population that has been underserved.
Solutions to Keep Life’s Quality
Las Vegas is home to the only center in Nevada that specializes in assisting people with partial sight, and the only husband and wife team of its kind in the country. Low Vision Services Inc. was founded by Nevada’s only board certified vision therapist, Sandy Yesnick. “We came up with the idea for the center by putting ourselves in the patient's position. Visually disabled people need more than products; they need solutions that allow them to remain independent and to continue enjoying their favorite activities. That's why we brought together in a single center the complete range of related professions and put together our multi-disciplinary approach. Our goal is to make sure that our patients achieve the absolute best results possible."
Every effort has been made to facilitate access to the center, from the color of the walls to lighting and furniture design. The center assesses the patient's needs and their remaining visual capabilities on-site before showing them how to make the best of their sight in order to help them remain independent as long as possible. Patients are not merely exposed to a world of innovative solutions; they are carefully matched with the product that best meets their needs and taught to make the best use of that product with ample follow-up care. As Dr. David Yesnick makes clear, "Our emphasis is placed on the rehabilitation service and the on-going care offered to each patient."
The experts at Low Vision Services Inc. have built a reputation for solid professionalism by offering the kind of friendly, thorough, personalized attention their patients deserve.
The products and services offered are covered by Medicare, and all major credit cards are accepted. To reach Low Vision Services Inc. with questions or to make an appointment call: (702) 966-2020. For more information visit: www.LowVisionServices.com.
by: Ken O. Sullivan, visually impaired author
Adults over the age of fifty are at greater risk for developing macular degeneration, a condition that affects the central vision of the eye. Low vision specialists can offer sound medical advice on the prevention of macular degeneration in elderly patients, as well as low vision products that can help improve one's field of vision.
What is Macular Degeneration?
The inner lining of the eye is called the retina. The center of the retina is called the macula, and when this area atrophies or becomes deteriorated, macular degeneration is the result. Scarring or deterioration of the macula results in the loss of central vision, used for reading, driving, and working on computers. There are two types of age related degeneration of the macula, and they are wet and dry. The dry form is due to atrophy of the rods and cones in the retinal part of the eye. The wet form is due to blood capillaries that burst or leak below the macula, causing a loss of vision in the area.
There are signs that doctors look for when diagnosing the degeneration of the macula. Yellow deposits called drusen develop in the macula, and while a person's vision might be quite good when the drusen first develop, if the drusen grow in size and number, it can lead to age related degeneration of the macula.
How is the Prevention of Macular degeneration treatment in Elderly Patients Accomplished?
People with higher cholesterol levels are also at greater risk for developing the drusen that can lead to a degeneration of the macula. Certain cholesterol lowering medications may help to lessen the growth of drusen.
What Types of Macular Degeneration Treatment Are Available?
If the dry form of degeneration of the macula is present, the macular degeneration treatment can include vitamin supplements taken in high doses. Antioxidants, zeaxanthin and lutein can help slow the effects of rod and cone atrophy, and for some people it can even aid in improving central vision.
Low vision specialists have seen a good new macular degeneration treatment for wet degeneration of the macula. The abnormal blood vessels growth has been lessened by the use of anti-angiogenic drugs. These are painlessly injected into the eye at a rate of once or twice a month, with good results for many patients.
What Other Types of Macular Degeneration Treatment Are Available Through Macular Degeneration Devices?
Low vision products are used daily to great effect in terms of macular degeneration treatment. Such macular degeneration devices can include magnifiers and telescopic glasses. While these types of products are useful for making items appear larger in the central vision range, it is important to note that your peripheral vision may be perfectly normal even though you have degeneration of the macula. So many times these devices are used in conjunction with your regular eye glass prescription to give you the best of both visual ranges.
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