Frequently asked questions

Q	If my doctor cannot bring my peripheral vision, must I just accept that there is nothing more that I can do about my vision?
A	That is where rehabilitation comes in. First you must become aware of and understand the nature of your problem. Then you can learn new tricks to deal with it.

Q	My friend uses a magnifier, would that work for me?
A	Magnifiers make it easier to see small details. They work well for tasks that require detail recognition (such as reading) and hand-eye coordination. But spatial coordination is a different problem. You cannot magnify the space between obstacles to make it easier to move between them.

My eye doctor told me there was nothing more he could do for my vision. Why bother going to vision rehabilitation?

Your doctor is referring to the disease of your eyes that he or she is treating. Even if your eyes themselves can not be improved, vision rehabilitation can help you live and work more effectively and satisfactorily. If your doctor says, “Nothing more can be done,” ask about vision rehabilitation.As well there is active research into new treatments for all the common eye diseases. What can’t be done today may be possible in the near future.

If i have been examined by an ophthalmologist, why is a low vision evaluation important?

The goals and methods of the two exams are very different. While your ophthalmologist assesses your visual health, diagnoses eye diseases and provides medical treatment when appropriate, a low vision exam’s goal is to determine how you can best maximize the vision you have remaining. Your low vision exam will evaluate your useable visual function, contrast sensitivity, and the exact fixation of the eyes. The examiner can recommend or prescribe the best low vision devices for your unique visual needs.While the ophthalmologist is trying to preserve your vision, a low vision specialist can help you make the most of the vision you have now.

Q	I’ve been referred to a low vision clinic. Should I continue seeing my eye doctor?
A	Yes! Your eye doctor will continue to treat your eye problems and help maintain the vision you have with medical treatment or surgery while your rehabilitation specialist helps you do the most with the vision you have, adapting devices, training and techniques.

Q	Can low vision rehabilitation make my macular degeneration better?
A	No, low vision rehabilitation can not change the physical condition of your eyes. Low vision rehabilitation can allow you to use your remaining vision as effectively as possible.

Q	I occasionally “see” things that I know aren’t there. Does this mean my eyes are getting seriously worse? Does this mean I am hving psychological troubles because of my vision loss?
A	People who have lost vision often see things – people, animals, shapes and colors… These hallucinations can be quite elaborate and so life-like they can be frightening. But they are a common occurrence which even has a name: Charles Bonnet Syndrome. While these can be disconcerting, they do not indicate anything troubling, either in therms of your vision or your psychological state.

Q	I read that more light improves vision so I got a 200 watt bulb fir my light at home, but it doesn’t really help that much. Do I need an even bigger bulb?
A	More wattage does not by itself necessarily improve reading or performing tasks that require seeing closely. Placement of the light is important, so a gooseneck lamp can help direct the light while a bulb in a shade directs the light in all directions. The type of bulb can also make a big difference, so you may want to experiment with halogen, fluorescent or Chromolux bulbs.

I have macular degeneration and read on this website about eccentric viewing. Can this help? How do I do it?

If you have a macular disease such as macular degeneration, distortion, blur, or scotomas in your central visual field can make performance of many daily activities such as reading, recognizing faces and spacial perception difficult. Eccentric viewing is a technique by which you learn to use undamaged areas of the retina outside the center of the macula to gain a more complete and clearer picture of what you are trying to see.

A key component of eccentric viewing is recognizing the location of your scotomas (blind spots). It takes training and practice to re-educate your eyes and brain to to use a new retinal location. Activities you’ve spent a lifetime doing automatically in one way now need to be done with a new bon-intuitive system. However a training program at a low vision clinic can be successful. Although there are self-training programs (Living Well with Low Vision has instructions for self training), it is best to learn from a professional who will be observing your eye movements and position and can match different techniques and exercises to your needs.

Q	Does eccentric viewing improve my low vision?
A	Eccentric vision does not affect your eye condition, but it can improve your visual skills and, hence, your quality of life.

If I have central scotomas should I get a magnifier for reading?

While enlarging print can improve seeing print, it may also make it harder to put letters and words together into an understandable sequence. With a magnifier you may be able to see only a word or two at a time, and this may actually slow your reading and interfere with comprehension. If you want to try a magnifier, a vision therapist can teach you visual skills that can improve your ability to read with a magnifier.