Local Eye Doctors Help Legally Blind To See High Technology For Low Vision Patients Allows Many To Drive Again that will give you the independence you’ve been looking for. Patients with vision in the 20/200 range can many times be improved to 20/50 or better. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in people over 50. Despite this, most adults are not familiar with the condition. As many as 25% of those over the age of 50 have some degree of macular degeneration. The macula is only one small part of the retina; however, it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp central vision. When it degenerates, For many patients with macular macular degeneration leaves a blind degeneration and other vision-related spot right in the center of vision, conditions, the loss of central visual making it difficult or impossible to detail also signals the end to one of recognize faces, read a book, or pass the last bastion of independence: the driver’s vision test. driving. Missouri optometrist Nine out of 10 people who have Dr. Ryan Broyles and Illinois macular degeneration have the dry optometrist Dr. Marianne McDaniel form. New research suggests vitamins are using miniaturized telescopes can help. The British medical journal that are mounted in glasses to help BMC Ophthalmology recently people who have lost vision from reported that 56% of patients treated macular degeneration and other eye with a high-dose combination of conditions. vitamins experienced improved vision “Some of my patients consider me after six months. the last stop for people who have While age is the most significant vision loss,” said Dr. Broyles, one of risk factor for developing the disease, only a few doctors in the world who heredity, smoking, cardiovascular specialize in fitting bioptic telescopes disease, and high blood pressure have to help those who have lost vision also been identified as risk factors. due to macular degeneration, diabetic Macular degeneration accounts retinopathy, and other debilitating eye for 90% of new legal blindness in the diseases. U.S. While there is currently no cure, Imagine a pair of glasses that can promising research is being done on improve your vision enough to change many fronts. “My job is to figure out your life. If you’re a low vision patient, everything and anything possible to you’ve probably not only imagined keep a person functioning, especially them, but have been searching for driving,” says Dr. McDaniel. them. Bioptic telescopes may be the “Bioptic telescopes can cost over breakthrough in optical technology $2,000,” said Dr. McDaniel, “especially ADVERTISEMENT
if we build them with an automatic sunglass.” “The major benefit of the bioptic telescope is that the lens automatically focuses on whatever you’re looking at,” said Dr. Broyles. “It’s like a self-focusing camera, but much more precise.”
A scene as it might be viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration.
To learn more about bioptic telescopes or to schedule a consultation call today.
Ryan Broyles, O.D. (816) 229-3001
Serving The Greater Kansas City Area
www.LowVisionMidwest.com
Marianne McDaniel, O.D. (802) 350-6599
Serving The Greater St. Louis Area
www.LowVisionOfSouthIL.com