No Risk Low Vision Promise

You may have been told by your eye doctor that nothing can be done to help you. You may be hesitant to schedule an appointment with a doctor dedicated to helping persons with low vision achieve their goals. Having special glasses that will allow you to return to activities that you’ve given up may sound too good to be true.

To help you decide to schedule a low vision evaluation I make the following promises:
1. I will accept you for a low vision evaluation only after I have interviewed you on the telephone and I sincerely believe I can help.
2. If I accept you as a low vision patient it is because, as a result of your answers to my questions, I believe that you will benefit from low vision glasses or other devices.
3. During the first few minutes of the visit I will demonstrate to you that I can help you see better. The remainder of the evaluation will be used to determine the best low vision devices for your needs. The evaluation fee is $235.
4. If, during the first few minutes, I cannot demonstrate that I can help you see better, the evaluation will be terminated and there will be no fee charged.
5. During the evaluation I will show you exactly how various low vision glasses will help you. You will see exactly how they help and what they look like.
6. At the end of the evaluation I will tell you exactly which glasses I am prescribing for you and their cost. You will have the opportunity to choose how much help you want and how much you wish to pay.
7. When you receive your low vision glasses I will again demonstrate that they help you more than your previous glasses. If you do not see an improvement the fees that you paid for the glasses will be refunded. The evaluation fee is non-refundable.

I make these promises based on years of experience helping persons with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. Because of this experience I have the skills to identify people who I can help and to prescribe appropriate low vision glasses for their needs. Call me for a free telephone consultation. 1 866 321-2030 (toll free)

Dr. David L. Armstrong, Optometrist

About Low Vision

Low vision is not the same as blindness. A person with low vision has some useful sight but has difficulty with the performance of daily activities. Conventional glasses do not provide sufficient vision for reading watching TV, using a computor, driving and other visual activities. Many eye conditions cause low vision.

A low vision doctor, like Dr. Armstrong, is often able to prescribe special glasses or other devices which magnify what is seen, making it easier to see. Many people who have been told that they are legally blind can be helped. When possible, we prefer to prescribe the magnification in glasses so both hands are free.

Patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or other conditions are often told by their doctor that nothing can be done that will help. The doctor is correct that nothing can be done to cure these conditions causing low vision. A low vision doctor can help by evaluating the remaining vision and prescribing microscopic or telescopic eyeglasses that maximize the remaining vision.

To schedule a low vision evaluation call toll free 866 321-2030 for a free telephone consultation with Dr. Armstrong. Dr. Armstrong always speaks with low vision patients by phone and questions them to determine if low vision glasses will help. The appointment is only made when Dr. Armstrong feels that he will be able to help the person.

Low vision glasses are prescribed to meet the needs of each person so the costs vary. Usually low vision glasses for reading cost between $750 and $850. Telescopic glasses for driving or distance vision cost between $1750 and $2000.

Medicare, supplemental and other insurances do not pay for either the low vision evaluation or for the low vision glasses.















































Friday, January 27, 2012

"I'm thrilled"

Recently a gentleman returned to receive his low vision glasses that I'd prescribed a few weeks before following a thorough low vision evaluation.  He is a builder and cabinet maker in Baltimore, MD and suffers a vision loss from macular degeneration.  He had requested help with reading, especially blueprints, and also watching TV and driving.  He has been seen regularly for his macular degeneration at Johns Hopkins and at a large retinal pactice in Washington, D.C.  Neither had referred him to a low vision specialist.  He found me through my newspaper ad.

To help him with reading I prescribed glasses which included a telebinocular.  the telebinocular is a small telescope built into the lower part of the eyeglass lens, angled down and focused for reading.  He brought blueprints to his evaluation and was able to read them easily with the telebinocular glasses.  Yestereday I handed him USA Today.  He was able to easily read the regular print and also print less than half that size.
 
Next I dispensed his bioptic driving glasses.  They have small telescopes near the top of the lenses that magnify 2.2 times.  He looked down the hallway at a framed picture about 35 feet away and said "With my regular prescription that is just a blur.  When I look with the telescopes it is much easier to see.  I can see detail in the picture".

The final pair, set to focus at 9 feet will help him watch TV.  They include wide angle  bioptic telescopes.  He was able to see much better at the 9 foot distance of his TV.

As he was about to leave for home I asked him how he felt about the new low vision glasses.  He said, "I am thrilled.  I have been really excited waiting to get the glasses and I am just thrilled at the way they help me see.  It is a shame that it is so hard for people to find help from a doctor like you.  It must be really satisfying helping people with poor vision."

I am writing about this man's experience because it illustrates several things:
1. Even though people with vision loss have been cared for by the best doctors they are rarely referred to a low vision doctor who may be able to help them.
2. With a proper evaluation low vision glasses can often be prescribed to help the person return to activities that they have had trouble with or have given up.
3. Low vision glasses are prescribed for very specific purposes.  It may require more than one pair to meet the person's goals.

In answer to my patient's question, "Yes, it is very satisfying to help people see better".  Especially those with severe vision problems who have been told by other doctors that nothing will help them.  I would like to help you.  If you suffer from vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt's disease, stroke or some other cause give me a call.  I will be happy to speak with you at no charge and I will be honest with you.  If I feel that I can help we will schedule an evaluation.  If I don't think I can help you I won't make you an appointment.  I don't want to take people's time and money and then disappoint them.  By asking the right questions on the phone I am able to help over 90% of the low vision patients who I see.  Call me toll free at 866 321-2030 for a free phone consultation.
Posted by at 8:05 AM
Labels: , ,