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Patients suffering from macular degeneration have central vision impairments that can not be corrected with standard glasses, medicine or surgery. Members of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS) offer specialized macular degeneration and low vision glasses to those who suffer from eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. These aids can help in maintaining their independence and improve their overall quality of life.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 14, 2007 -- Macular degeneration glasses offer hope to people suffering from central vision impairments that can not be corrected with standard glasses, medicine or surgery. For most individuals, gradual changes in visual acuity occurs in people over the age of 60 and can be treated with regularly updated prescription glasses and contacts, but for those who are afflicted with low vision and eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, treatment options can be much more limited and challenging. Members of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS) offer offer eye glasses for people with macular degeneration to help them maintain their independence and improve their overall quality of life.
The IALVS is an organization devoted to low vision sufferers who, even with regular eye glasses or contacts, cannot see well enough to perform daily activities like reading, writing, driving, playing cards or doing computer work. Doctors in the IALVS network are specially trained to work with these patients to make the most of their remaining vision through low vision aids like macular degeneration glasses and telescopic lenses for macular degeneration patients.
The process used to create custom vision aids like macular degeneration glasses is much different than the standard processes used to prescribe regular glasses and contacts. First, the remaining vision of each patient is carefully determined using specialized charts that have more gradations than standard eye charts and are placed much closer to the patient. Since central vision is often severely compromised in these patients, the IALVS doctors instruct them to use their peripheral vision during testing.
Eye glasses for people with macular degeneration are created based upon a low vision assessment performed by an IALVS doctor. This assesses the current prescription for the patient's normal eyeglasses to ensure its accuracy and becomes incorporated into the customized low vision eyewear. Before the custom vision aids are created, the patient is asked to formulate a 'wish list' of the daily activities that matter to them the most. If driving or reading is at the top of the list, then the IALVS doctor will do everything he or she can to create custom macular degeneration glasses that help the patient achieve those tasks. While not every activity on the wish list can be achieved, every effort is made to focus improvement on visual goals that are most important for the patient's independence.
Macular degeneration glasses and other visual aids have made improvements in the vision and quality of life in almost every patient who had a degree of usable vision before the custom treatment from IALVS.
"With the fitting of special telescopic lens in my regular prescription glasses, I was able to drive once again in the daylight hours," said John Roberts, an 81-year-old WWII veteran from Oakland County, MI. "The new telescopic lens gave me the opportunity to once again see the TV screen in its entirety."
The International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS) is committed to the highest quality visual, optical and rehabilitative solutions for patients suffering from vision loss. To learn more about the academy and how they develop custom low vision aids and eyeglasses for people with macular degeneration, please visit the IALVS website at: www.ialvs.com.
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