About Low Vision

There are many people who have a vision loss that is not correctable with typical eyeglasses or contact lenses. They've lost some vision and are unable to see well enough to participate in activities that are important to them. We say that these people have low vision. Eye diseases like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Stargardt's disease and glaucoma, among others, are common causes of low vision.
For many years there have been optometrists who help low vision patients see better so they can return to a more normal life. Special telescopic or microscopic glasses are often prescribed which help the person return to reading, driving, using a computer, participating in hobbies or crafts. Some people are able to return to work.
Most of these people have been told by their eye doctors that nothing can be done to help them. It is true that there is no cure for these diseases and the vision will not return to normal. The job of the low vision optometrist is to evaluate the person's remaining vision and prescribe appropriate glasses or other devices which magnify what is seen, making it easier to see.

Free Telephone Consultation
My practice is totally dedicated to helping low vision patients. That is all that I do. I always speak with patients before scheduling a low vision evaluation. That helps me understand how much remaining vision they have and what their goals are. I also answer questions and give the person an idea of what to expect from the evaluation and from the special glasses. I only schedule people who I can help.
Call me for a free telephone consultation. I will be happy to speak with you and I will tell you if I can help you see better. Call toll free 1 866 321-2030
I see low vision patients in offices in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Wytheville, VA.

More information at VirginiaLowVision.com and facebook.com/VirginiaLowVisionOptometrist


Thursday, June 11, 2009

Omega 3 Fatty Acids Offer Protection Against Progression of Macular Degeneration

The following article from "AOA First Look" shows the importance of Omega 3 fatty acids for persons with macular degeneration. If you suffer from macular degeneration be sure to ask your optometrist what you should be taking in hopes of slowing the progress of vision loss. Those at risk due to family history of the disease should be watching their diet and taking supplements as well.

Eating oily fish may reduce risk of AMD progression, study suggests.
Following a BBC News story, WLS-TV Chicago (6/9), an ABC affiliate, reported on its website that according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, "omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, appear to slow age-related macular degeneration (AMD)." Scientists believe that "omega-3 offers protection by altering fat levels in the blood that can be damaging to the body."
Explaining the study's methodology, MedPage Today (6/9, Smith) noted that researchers from Tufts University examined "dietary information from 2,924 eligible participants from the original" Age-Related Eye Disease Study, analyzing AMD "progression in 5,146 eyes." The team found that "dietary factors can influence the risk of progression of AMD." Specifically, people "in the highest quartile of" docosahexaenoic acid "consumption -- more than 64 milligrams a day -- had a hazard ratio for progression of 0.73...compared with the reference group," while participants "in the highest quartile of" eicosapentaenoic acid "consumption -- more than 42.3 milligrams a day -- had a hazard ratio for progression of 0.74," when "compared with the reference group." Notably, "the lower bounds for the highest quartiles of the two fatty acids are still significantly lower than the recommended daily dose of 650 milligrams."
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