Vision Dynamics

Proper lighting is the most important aspect of preserving eyesight

2010-01-05T15:02:00.010-05:00

According to a video on OttLite’s web site the Disney Corporation asked OttLite founder, Dr. John Nash Ott, to time-lapse film the growth of a pumpkin. It was to be used in the animation of the pumpkin that turns into a coach for the picture “Cinderella”. Unfortunately the pumpkin did not mature. Dr. Ott realized that the lights used for filming were too hot and they dried the plant and it died. He then created a lamp that provided natural daylight without the harmful effects of excessive heat. That led to the healthy, full spectrum lights that we have today.

OttLite today offers full spectrum lighting, natural daylight lamps. Vision Dynamics now offers their new lamps, all using OttLite™ Illumination, with 508™ Technology. They are not luxury items but cannot be found in mass market stores. They are professional grade lamps available to the consumer in select stores and medical offices. They are available as floor lamps , desk and table lamps, portable, specialty, and magnification lamps.

Proper lighting is the most important aspect of preserving eyesight and it is one that we can all easily make use of without breaking our budgets. Everyone should and can protect their present eyesight in every way possible. Being legally blind since childhood, I am keenly aware of the need for conserving the eyesight you have right now. There is no easier way to start doing that than by using the best light available for all the things you love to do. Light up your home or office, use them for reading or craft work. They will even help your plants!

I have always provided easy solutions to our clients and adding these new products is another step in that direction. Give your eyes a break! They’ll love you for it.

Charlie Collins

Merry Christmas from Charlie Collins!

2009-12-23T15:28:00.003-05:00

12-23-2009 –
I am more grateful than ever this Christmas season and it is not Christmas day. Funny for years how I believed that somehow, someday, things would be better on their own and all along all I needed to do was sit back and realize how good I have it.
Living with legal blindness owned me for years, but now (the only time I have) I am deeply grateful. I took charge of my life and now am happy, joyous, and free.

I wish for all a happy and successful Holiday Season. This could be the time to take complete control, 100% responsibility for our lives and be grateful for our blessings.

Making a decision to focus on what I can do, and not what I cannot do or did not have made a huge difference in my life.

Yes, I can read with a video magnifier, better lighting, pocket magnifier, a computer that reads to me and displays very large print, a camera that takes a picture of my magazines – actually any printed materials - and reads them back to me in a human sounding voice, and best of all many low tech items that enable me to live a much higher quality of life.

I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life, for my clear mind’s eye, and the inspiration I get on a daily basis to help others with their struggles.

We are all blessed. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the store.

Charlie Collins

Vision Dynamics, LLC of Cheshire, CT strengthens ties with HumanWare, a Canadian based international provider of Low Vision/Blindness products

2009-12-22T16:07:00.002-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDITORIAL CONTACT:
Jack Sheehan
Director of Marketing
Vision Dynamics
203-271-1944
jack@visiondynamics.com

Vision Dynamics expands its long term association with HumanWare in adding their complete Low Vision Line, highlighting the new Intel Reader.

Cheshire, CT – December 17, 2009.

Charlie Collins, founder and owner, of Vision Dynamics is happy to extend their twelve year association with HumanWare. “We have always offered the HumanWare line of Blindness Aids and as we both continue to grow, we are very comfortable in knowing that they are constantly seeking to add new products.” said Charlie.

HumanWare is a Canadian based company with offices in Australia/New Zealand, Europe/UK, and the United States. On the HumanWare web site it states.”HumanWare's products are having a profoundly positive impact on the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. These are the tools that empower them to live independently and compete effectively in a sighted world.”

Vinnie Zappa, V/P of Low Vision Sales for HumanWare, stated “HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow (and in many cases, to go) with the user. Giving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to feel connected – to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live”. Charlie adds “This statement fits right in with our mission to inspire and empower people with low vision, blindness, and learning difficulties with the hope, desire and ability to lead happy and independent lives.”

HumanWare’s Low vision aids include the brand new SmartView Synergy video magnifier (CCTV), myReader2 (auto reader) and the SmartView Graduate (close-up/distance camera). Humanware has a full line of hand held portable magnifiers including the SmartView Nano, Pocket, Versa and Versa+. Video readers offered include the new Intel Reader. There is a soon to be released Orator for BlackBerry Smartphones. This will bring your BlackBerry to life using state of the art text to speech (TTS) technology with adjustable volume and speech rate.

“This is the kind of awareness and advanced thinking we are accustomed to from HumanWare.” said Charlie. “They are cutting edge providers in our industry. That is why we have been able to benefit from this partnership for so long.”

Vision Testing

2009-12-15T15:47:00.007-05:00

Charlie Collins:

As one who is visually impaired I am very familiar with struggling with my initial thoughts. Are you having doubts or questions about your vision? Can’t do more of the things you used to handle easily? Not sure what, if anything, you can do? I remember having all these thoughts when I was diagnosed with Juvenile Macular Degeneration. If you are struggling and looking for some answers try these everyday living questions.

Do you find it difficult for you to watch sports or the news, your favorite “soaps” on TV?

Can you see the regular print in newspapers, magazines or books?

Can you see the large print headlines in the newspaper?

Are you having difficulty when you use your computer, play cards, sew, or doing other favorite things?

Are you having difficulty reading labels on medicine bottles or prices at the supermarket?

Are you having difficulty reading your own handwriting or your personal mail?

Are you sometimes even having difficulty recognizing the faces of family or friends?

Does seeing in dim or bright lights seem to be getting more difficult?

If you answered yes to three of these questions and have not had an eye exam recently I advise
you to do so as soon as possible. Your problems may not be serious and you may only need a minor adjustment to your normal vision.

If you answered yes to more than three of these questions there is a definite need for a vision examination conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

You are not alone in your doubts, perhaps even fears, about these questions. I personally know there are many ways to solve whatever problems you may be experiencing. My staff and I can help with advice or with the vision aids we deal with every day. Please call me or send me an e-mail today. I have been where you are so I know the way out.

You can help me help the vision impaired needy.

2009-12-08T16:13:00.002-05:00

Charlie Collins:

I am a sufferer of Juvenile Macular Degeneration. I know what it is like to face life with the fear and anxiety that loss of vision brings to its victims. I also remember what happened when I realized there was help for my problem. Now I want to show people who are really hurting in this recession how they can still get help.

Using my large print, talking computer, I read a letter last week from an agency representing our local nonprofit agencies.

“With the nation’s unemployment rate over 10%, more and more middle-class families find themselves seeking services from nonprofit providers. The very people who were donating to nonprofit providers as recently as eighteen months ago are now applying for services.” states a recent letter from The Connecticut Nonprofit Human Services Cabinet (CNHSC) This agency represents well over 800 nonprofit providers across Connecticut that contract with the state to provide health and human services on its behalf

The letter added “The economic bubble has burst for our state. Unfortunately, there was no bubble to burst for nonprofit providers; we’ve been “doing more with less” for so long that many cannot remember what it is like to not struggle to balance a budget. The fiscal hardships that the state went through in 2009 are what nonprofit providers have been going through for years.”

This letter made the severity of the problems facing nonprofits very clear. I made up my mind right then that I was going to do something to help. You may be able to help too. Our company, Vision Dynamics in Cheshire, is well known to these agencies. Our reputation is one of always being ready, able and even anxious to help. We believe there are many vision aids not being used by the original purchasers for many reasons. We upgrade people’s aids many times and they usually keep their original product. We will be contacting those folks to offer to act as a drop off station for vision aids that are no longer being used. We have arranged to deliver these items to the non-profits that we and CNHSC support and make sure they get to the people that need them. I know we can make a difference in someone’s life that might not happen without this help.

If you or a loved one has one of these in your house, a magnifier or other item that is no longer being used because a stronger one was needed, someone can still use that original! There are other examples, readers, Braille products and many others. Our staff, most visually impaired themselves, is expert at placing the right tool in the right hands. You can drop off any vision aid product at Vision Dynamics, 470 West Main Street in Cheshire, CT. Items dropped off before December 15th may make a Merry Christmas gift for a needy person!

If you or a loved one needs vision aid advice but are unsure about the help available to you, please contact us, we may be able to put you in touch with an agency that can help you.

GM Teams With National Federation for the Blind to Develop Safe Sound Alert For Electric Vehicles

2009-11-27T10:17:00.003-05:00

Electric cars are silent-running which for many people is a very good thing. It can potentially lead to some risk to the visually-impaired and other pedestrians however as some studies show.

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published in September reveled bicyclists and pedestrians are struck at a significantly higher rate by hybrid as opposed to conventional cars.

GM has created a special pedestrian alert signal for the Chevy Volt. ”It is an active system,” says Chief engineer Andrew Farah, meaning the driver must activate it. Passive systems produce a sound at all times. The Volt pedestrian alert sound is a light volume horn-like sound similar to the chirp of some cars keyless entry indicators. ”It has to be automotive,” says Farah referring to the quality of the tone.

The fist generation Chevy Volt will not be equipped with a passive alert system. Competitor Nissan has reportedly developed a system for its upcoming LEAF EV which sounds like a floating car from the Bladerunner movie. GM is looking at the possibility of passive alert for future Volt generations. Other electric automakers such as Tesla remain uncertain.

Today GM has announced that they formed a partnership with the National Federation for the Blind to identify what will be a “safe level of sound” for alerting visually impaired and other pedestrians to the approach of a silent running EV.

Meetings have begun earlier this year and are also aimed at protecting runners, cyclists, and children.

“We have significant background in the area of pedestrian alerts dating to our work on our first electric car, the EV1,” Farah said, “The most important thing is to listen to the people who will interact with these vehicles in everyday life.”

Deborah Kent Stein, who chairs the NFB’s Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety, said, “A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demonstrated that the silent operation of hybrid vehicles is an issue for all pedestrians, not just the blind. In certain situations, electric or hybrid vehicles are twice as likely to be involved in collisions with pedestrians. The NFB looks forward to working with the safety agency in the crafting of appropriate standards establishing an acceptable level of minimum vehicle sound.”

“The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the opportunity to work with General Motors on this problem,” said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind. “We urge all automobile manufacturers to work with the blind in designing vehicle sounds to alert us to the approach, speed and direction of vehicles so that both drivers and pedestrians can safely use America’s roadways.”

A low-level low-speed vehicular sound for EVs may be inevitable, though no formal federal regulations currently exist. Future legislation may arise in concert with input from the Society of Automotive engineers to develop a national standard.

A lack of consensus and standards among automakers could conceivably result in a virtual cacophony of discordant sounds once streets become filled with EVs from various automakers. Thus all cars should produce similar sounds, likely ruling-out the possibility of customizable “car tones,” as some pundits have speculated about.

Like it or not, the sound of silence appears to be on its way.

Below is GM’s video on the sound of the Volt:

Article Courtesty: www.gm-volt.com

Health Alerts: Macular Degeneration

2009-11-24T16:33:00.007-05:00

10:55 AM CST on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The New York Times

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Therapies can help prevent vision damage

Cases of age-related macular degeneration are expected to rise significantly by 2050, but better use of therapies is expected to lower the percentage of cases that result in vision loss and disability.

Scientists at Research Triangle Institute International analyzed existing data and projected the disease's future prevalence based on various treatment scenarios. Their study, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, concludes that cases will increase from 9.1 million in 2010 to 17.8 million in 2050. They attribute almost all of the increases to aging of the U.S. population.

The disease causes deterioration of the macula, the main area of the retina, a thin tissue at the back of the eye where light-sensitive cells send signals to the brain. Damage to the macula results in blurred or distorted vision and blind spots.

Study authors say existing therapies could cut visual impairment by as much as 35 percent. One cost-effective way to delay the disease, researchers say, is through antioxidant vitamin therapy.

SOURCES: American Health Assistance Foundation; Archives of Ophthalmology

Carroll Center for the Blind Tech Fair

2009-11-21T13:10:00.010-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDITORIAL CONTACT:
Jack Sheehan
Director of Marketing
Vision Dynamics
203-271-1944
jack@visiondynamics.com

November annually provides many things for the visually impaired to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Day and the Carroll Center for the Blind Tech Fair are two of them

Cheshire, CT – November 17, 2009.

There have been some really great fall days lately and that means Thanksgiving Day cannot be far off. Actually this year it happens to be November 26th, and that means the annual Carroll Center Tech Fair will be on Tuesday, November 24th, from 10:00 AM to 3 PM. in the Exhibitor Hall at The Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre Street, Newton, MA.

This event provides an opportunity for all to come and see the many vision aids available for those who need help with any of the many forms of vision impairment. It also is a chance for the professionals in this field and the caretakers to learn about what they can use to help others. Vision Dynamics will be joining the many exhibitors in presenting products and explaining services.

We at Vision Dynamics really look forward to this event every year. It is an opportunity for our staff to shine! We get a chance to show all the many vision aids we carry and really emphasize all the changes and improvements. Our staff will be available to explain the features of these tools and advise on selecting the proper aid for each individual.

We have a couple of items to put the word out on this year. We have made some additions to our staff. Vision Dynamics is expanding our field staff to meet the commitments to our long term goals of extending our services in Southern New England.

We have added Marion O’Donnell in Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the Cape area. Marion will be using her 26 years of experience in the health care industry and her personal experience in caretaking for her Mother and Father. Both were visually impaired and Marion devoted many years to helping them and learning firsthand how to provide that help.

We have also added Dr. Rick Ely to the Western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire area. Dr. Rick, visually impaired himself, brings a wealth of knowledge of our industry and a strong background in teaching people with vision impairments. Once again, a person able to share his personal experiences to those who need help.

Fall is traditionally harvest time for all. Come to the Tech Fair and harvest all the information there to enjoy a better life for you and your loved ones. What a great way to remind us of all of what we have to be grateful for on Thanksgiving Day!

Vision Dynamics is Southern New England’s premier company serving the needs of the Low Vision and Blind population. Its mission is to empower and inspire people with low vision, blindness, and learning difficulties with the hope, desire and ability to lead happy and independent lives. Discover more at www.visiondynamics.com.

A great example of recovery from a disaster

2009-10-02T13:19:00.003-04:00

A great example of recovery from a disaster using the visual aids available today!

Seeking shade: Sunglasses crucial year-round for eye protection

2009-09-18T14:52:00.000-04:00

By TINA HINZ
WATERLOO --- Sunglasses are more than a fashionable accessory.

They can save your eyes from permanent damage.

"We say it's like sunscreen for your eyes," said optician Arlen Happel at Mauer Eye Center.

Too much time outdoors without adequate eye protection could penetrate the retina and lead to cataracts, Macular Degeneration or skin cancer around the eyelids, according to Prevent Blindness America, a national volunteer health and safety organization.

Sunglasses should block ultraviolet radiation found in everyday sunlight. Look for a label that says the lenses offer 100 percent UV protection. Regular prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses can be coated with the clear UV solution, as UV light can otherwise refract through and intensify exposure.

Darker-tinted lenses don't mean more protection; they simply enhance comfort and vision in bright light.

If you're unsure whether your eyewear is protected, ask an eye doctor to test it with a UV detector.

"You don't see a lot of sunglasses that aren't (UV protected) anymore," Happel said.

Tinted clip-on lenses, designed to fit over your regular prescription glasses, offer UV protection and are available at area department stores and optical centers. However, the cheaper versions usually are lower quality and have potential for warping and distortion, said Cindi Nelson, an optician at The EyeCare Associates.

Nelson highly recommends polarized lenses, which protect the eyes and reduce glare while driving.

"You can have a real dark sunglass, but you still find yourself squinting, and that's the glare," she said.

Sunglasses often are mistakenly limited to hot temperatures and beaches but should be worn year-round, including on cloudy days. Snow skiers are as much at risk as boaters for sun-related eye damage.

"The reflection of the sun off the snow is probably equally as bad as that off of water, pavement or a car hood," Happel said.

The more sun your shades filter, the better, Happel said. That's why the latest trend of women wearing oversized lenses is beneficial to their health. Also, a brimmed hat helps block overhead or side light.

Don't forget about the kids. Prevent Blindness America suggests sunglasses that fit well, are impact resistant, don't have lenses that pop out of their frames and are large enough to shield the eyes from most angles.

"People don't think about it, but children are outside a lot," Nelson said.

Why You Should Use a Cane

2009-09-11T16:19:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! My name is Tracy and I am currently a member of the Vision Dynamics team. I have Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa and have had some exciting experiences using a cane. I'd love to share with you some ideas about moving more safely in your neighborhood and community.

First, it is a great way to communicate to others that you have a site problem. It takes the guess work out of the situation Many times when you have low vision you bump into things or may look a little disoriented. The cane puts it out there that you are visually impaired and not drunk.

Many folks think they don’t need it but don’t realize that they usually walk in the same places most of the time and become very familiar in their environment. It is when they are in a new place that they have difficulty. They don’t want to admit it and think that they have fooled everyone. It is hard to let everyone know you have a problem, but by doing so you are becoming part of those who are ambassadors for taking the steps necessary to be independent.

When using a cane you gather so much more information about the surface you are walking on. I do much better along with a cane than I do when someone is leading me. When you put your mobility into someone else’s hands, you are leaving it up to their interpretation.

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

2009-08-06T14:50:00.000-04:00

Palmetto Health Easley - Care You Can Believe In
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

How healthy is your child’s vision? This is an appropriate question to ask anytime but especially in August during Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.

According to Prevent Blindness America, a volunteer eye health and safety organization founded in 1908, without good vision, a child’s ability to learn about the world becomes more difficult. Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-age children. Since many vision problems begin at an early age, it is very important that children receive proper eye care. If left untreated, eye problems can worsen and lead to other serious problems as well as affect learning ability, personality, and adjustment in school.

Here are some common eye problems:

• Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a loss of vision in an eye that is not corrected by glasses alone.
• Crossed eyes, or strabismus, describes eyes that are not straight or do not line up with each other. If not treated, it can cause lazy eye or amblyopia.
• Color deficiency or color blindness does not literally mean blind to color. Instead, children with this condition have difficulty identifying some colors.
• Nearsightedness or myopia describes the condition when the eyeball is too long for the normal focusing power of the eye. This results in images of distant objects appearing blurred.
• Farsightedness or hyperopia is the condition where the eyeball is too short for the normal focusing power of the eye. In children, the lens in the eye accommodates for this error and provides clear vision for distance and usually near viewing, but with considerable effort that often causes fatigue and sometimes crossed eyes.
• Astigmatism results primarily from an irregular shape of the front surface of the cornea. Children with astigmatism typically see vertical lines more clearly than horizontal ones, and sometimes the reverse.

What are signs that may indicate your child has a vision problem? Prevent Blindness America provides the following tips to parents:

What do your child’s eyes look like?

• Eyes do not line up where one appears crossed or looks out
• Eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
• Eyes are watery or red (inflamed)

How does your child act?

• Rubs eyes a lot
• Closes or covers one eye
• Tilts head or thrusts head forward
• Has difficulty in reading or doing other close-up work, or holds objects close to eyes to see
• Blinks more than usual or seems cranky when doing close-up work
• Describes objects as being blurry or hard to see
• Squints eyes or frowns

What could your child say?

• “My eyes are itchy,” “My eyes are burning,” or “My eyes feel scratchy.”
• “I can’t see very well.”
• After doing close-up work, your child says “I feel dizzy,” “I have a headache” or “I feel sick/nauseous.”
• “Everything looks blurry,” or “I see double.”

According to Tiffany Sullivan, Vision Health Initiative director, this program seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent low-income, uninsured children from receiving vision care so that they can receive the full benefits of being in school. She said, “The benefit of good vision is not just being able to see the chalkboard or being able to see 20/20. Healthy vision involves being able to use one’s eyes for life. Proper vision helps a child analyze and respond to what is seen and to understand the other senses. Vision is a learned ability, and problems with vision can affect the development, adjustment and achievement of a child.”

As we observe Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, if your child needs to be examined for vision problems, contact your child’s school nurse or try free vision screenings.

Clearview+ CCTV

2009-07-16T14:50:00.000-04:00

Hello low vision friends, my name is Marge. I work here at Vision Dynamics and I have macular degeneration. Let me tell you about the new Optelec 22" Clearview Plus CCTV. It helps you read easily and effortlessly. I own this machine and with it, I am able to read bills, write checks, read mail and magazines, see the labels on medication and look at photographs. But most importantly is that with this CCTV, I can continue my love of reading. It can magnify anything you put under it, from 2x to 72x its size. It’s extremely easy to use and the focus is very clear.
If one wants their independence back, this is the only way to go. If anyone has any questions, I can share my low vision experiences with you and tell you of other products that will help you with every day living problems. Please feel free to call (203) 271- 1944 and ask for Marge!

Featured Product: Eschenbach Max TV Glasses

2009-06-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

Recommended by: Marge Stefanec, a low vision employee of Vision Dynamics

"They're for distance and are especially useful when I go to the theater for plays. When I wear them, I can see the whole stage and the actors' faces."

Eschenbach MaxTV Binocular Glasses are perfect for anyone with low vision conditions or macular degeneration who needs help with distance viewing. They work just like binoculars, except easier to use because they are hands-free, and more attractive with a modern, high tech frame. The main purpose of the Max TV Glasses is for watching television, but the glasses are multifunctional. They can be used in a variety of activities, like outdoors at the beach or bird watching, at church to see the altar, going to a movie, or at a sporting event. Max TV Glasses can be adjusted so that each eye lens can be focused separately. The glasses have a 2.1x Magnification and can focus on an object from 10 feet away to infinity. These glasses are one of the most comfortable and useful distance viewing devices.

"I love them and use them all the time. I would recommend them to anyone who's visually impaired."

It’s Best To Be A Veteran

2009-06-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

If You’re Going To Have To Be Blind, It’s Best To Be A Veteran
TheDay - Connecticut
Judy Benson
6/17/2007

West Haven VA Center offers crucial skills to aging population

Among the growing population of older Americans with poor eyesight, Frank Quagan, Larry Thompson and Virginia Beltz might consider themselves the lucky ones.

“I used to be a commercial artist, so it was very difficult for me to lose my eyesight,” said Quagan, 82, who lives in Warwick, R.I. Quagan was diagnosed with macular degeneration six years ago and, like the vast majority of those considered legally blind, has a smidgen of sight left.

One morning last month, Quagan wasn’t looking the part of a person defeated by a disability. He was sitting at a computer in a room on the sixth floor of the main hospital building at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System’s busy, sprawling campus in West Haven, having a one-on-one refresher course in computer skills with blind-rehabilitation teacher Jim Waldron. They were using equipment with special software for people with low vision.

Though inside a hospital, this unit looks more like a vocational boarding school, with dormitory-style bedrooms, a lounge, group dining room, and uniquely equipped classrooms. There are none of the IV poles, gurneys and white-coated doctors seen elsewhere in the hospital hallways.

Named the Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center, the West Haven facility is one of 10 in VA hospitals around the country. The West Haven program serves blind and low-vision veterans from 15 states. Last year, about 300 went through the six-week course, said Penny Schuckers, chief of blind rehabilitation services. It costs the VA about $30,000 per patient.

The VA began these programs almost 40 years ago, originally to help veterans blinded by a combat injury. Over the years, it has evolved into a program that takes in mostly older veterans with low vision due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetes. It is a special point of pride in the VA system.

“This program often helps people to be able to stay at the level of care they’re currently at, and can keep them from having to go into a nursing home,” said Schuckers. “We can teach them how to take their medicines accurately (using special touch-sensitive devices) and how to make sure they’re not eating food that’s expired …, and not getting cut with a knife.

“Blindness can be such an isolating condition,” she said. “People tend not to reach out and get help.”

That, she said, is why bringing together people with this condition to teach them new ways of accomplishing everyday tasks in a focused, residential setting is so valuable.

“The blind rehabilitation program at the VA is unique,” she said. “If you’re going to have to be blind, it’s best to be a veteran.”

According to the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, the number of Americans with vision loss is projected to increase substantially through 2020. Already, about 3.3 million people over age 40 — one in 28 — have low vision or blindness. That number is expected to reach 5.5 million over the next 13 years.

The most common cause is Macular Degeneration, which occurs when the part of the retina that enables clear central vision effectively goes dead. The vast majority of cases are untreatable. Glaucoma, cataract , and complications of diabetes are other frequent causes of vision loss in older people.

A 2004 report from the eye institute said vision loss is “becoming a major public health problem,” which can lead to loss of independence and quality of life.

“My goal in coming here was to feel more independent,” said Larry Thompson, an Air Force veteran from West Grove, Pa., who has glaucoma. During his stay, he has been practicing his writing and computer skills, learning woodworking on machines he can read by touch, and calling the nightly Bingo games.

“I’m in my third week here, and I’m really enjoying it,” he said as he applied polyurethane to a wooden coat rack in one of the program’s classrooms.

Quagan, who served in the Air Force in World War II, first came to the blind rehabilitation center four years ago for his six-week stay. Few non-veterans with low vision have access to a comparable range of extended-stay and outpatient services and equipment as that provided by the VA for free or at a low cost to veterans. Charges depend on an individual’s finances and service history.

“There’s nothing as powerful as this group experience, that shows the guys what they can do,” said Maureen Carr, blind rehabilitation specialist. “Some of the guys come here and they’ve been signing their name with an ‘X.’ This is one of the little dignity-robbers. When they come here, they can reclaim some of that dignity.”

During his time in the program, Quagan made new friends, learned housekeeping skills in the program’s kitchen, had a six-hour eye exam with an optometrist who specializes in low vision, and learned how to use computers with adaptive software, closed-circuit televisions, special low-vision lights, new eyeglasses and magnifiers. Much of that equipment, provided by the VA, is now in Quagan’s home.

“Before I came here, I really didn’t think I would benefit that much,” said Quagan. “But after I came here, I got so enthusiastic about the things I could do when I got home. Before I had left I made three pieces of pottery. I was actually doing artwork on a closed-circuit TV.”

Those who enroll in the program can also learn Braille and keyboarding skills. Many are also given white canesand taught to use them by sweeping the ground in front of them to walk down the street and to cross a busy intersection. Teachers take the students on mobility lessons around the campus and into downtown West Haven.

“I’ve learned how to use my stick,” said Howard Allen, an Army veteran from Newark, N.J. “This is an extension of my eyes. Now, if I go out without it, I feel like something’s missing.”

Allen said he didn’t use a walking stick at all before he came to West Haven, and wouldn’t cross the street without help. Sometimes he would wait five or 10 minutes for someone to come along. In mobility lessons, he learned how to use the stick on busy streets and sidewalks and how to listen for cues in traffic when crossing a busy intersection.

The program also sends teachers to veteran’s homes for refresher courses, to troubleshoot equipment problems, or to work with those who can’t come to the six-week program.

“A lot of blind rehabilitation is ongoing, because computer equipment changes, vision changes, and people have life changes,” said Kathryn Wiseman, supervisor of blind rehabilitation services.

The VA spends an average of $29,052 for each veteran who completes the six-week program. That includes the cost of the stay, the lessons at the center and follow-up lessons at home, the fixed operating costs of the facility and of the low-vision and special computer equipment each veteran brings home, Schuckers said.

Among the few female veterans at the program recently was Virginia Beltz, an 82-year-old from Newport, R.I., who served in the Navy. She first came two years ago for a six-week stay, and was back last month for a refresher computer course. This time around, she was most excited about learning how to use a book reader program. She was an avid reader before losing most of her eyesight to macular degeneration.

“You can put in any book, and it will read it to you,” she said. “The technology is always evolving.”

One of the initial steps for all who enter the program is a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Kara Gagnon, director of low vision optometry. It can last up to seven hours, Gagnon said, because she spends a lot of time pinpointing the exact location on the retina that’s still healthy, and teaching patients how to make the most of what they have left.

“We can really train them to get right to that sweet spot,” she said. “We teach them to eliminate the head movement and use just eye movement.”

To find that “sweet spot,” she combines the patient’s own descriptions with what she can see when she looks at their eyes through a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, a sophisticated piece of equipment few private-practice optometrists have. Her exam also often leads to new eyeglass prescriptions for several kinds of glasses for different uses, and for other equipment like lighted magnifiersand closed-circuit televisions. These closed-circuit televisions, also called video magnifiers, allow a blind person to read magazines, newspapers and documents.

“I’m very invested in empowering these patients,” she said.

It works.

“I’m much more confident,” said Allen, the Newark, N.J. veteran. “I have no hang-ups now going up stairs or getting on and off elevators. This program has made a tremendous impact on my life.”

Enjoying a day at the beach with Low Vision/Macular Degeneration

2008-07-02T12:26:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy going to the beach with my family in Rhode Island. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go and enjoy myself.
There were so many summers I did not want to go to the beach. I am legally blind with Macular Degeneration and how could I possibly have fun? I am not going to be able to see what everyone else is seeing and of courseit was not just the pretty girls.
Being out in the bright sunlight, in a huge area with hardly any contrast and not really being to tell who was who held me back often.
Fear held me back from so many things and I can assure you now that I will no longer allow it to run my life.

I now have choices and more opportunities than I ever had. Now when I go to the beach, I bring my awesome sunglasses, my monocular, my mp3 player so I can listen to a book, and of course a hand held magnifier.
What a joy to sit there and not have the sun bother my eyes. My eyes are much more sensitive than the normal eye to brightness. It is so nice knowing there are so many different kinds of sunglasses that will help people with all types of eyes conditions see better.
My monocular is so cool, I can now watch my kids playing on the beach and have fun. This really
makes me happy. Of course I can see alot more than that but, I need to be careful I do not want to scare people. Who is that weirdo looking at us through the scope.
There are also many other choices for people to view things in the distance that will allow you to also see more clearly on the beach or wherever you want.
I remember seeing people relaxing reading a book on the beacj and I would say to myself I wish I could do that. Well I can, I use my mp3 player with a set of headphones and I read away. Nothing like reading a book on the beach and hearing the waves in the background.
I never leave home without my trusty hand held magnifier. You never know when you will need to look at something that just is not quite large enough. For me that is just about everything. Print is made for people with normal vision so I need to always be prepared.

Bottom line is my attitude. Now I have a positive I can attitude which makes my life so much better. There are so many thinmgs available to help people with all types of Vision Impaairments lead an independant and productive life.

Create a great day - Charlie

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A Low Vision, Legally Blind Man with Macular Degeneration Shares His Story

2008-06-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

- Triumphant over Disability -
- How a Blind Man’s Darkest Moments Led to Success and a Mission to Help Others -

Thirty years ago, Charlie Collins was a typical 10-year old fun loving boy, riding dirt bikes through the woods in his home town of Cheshire, CT., playing baseball and attending the local elementary school. At the age of 13, though, his ordinary childhood ended, and his extraordinary journey began. Charlie’s life was shattered with devastating news; he suffered from a rare, untreatable eye disease that causes progressive blindness - Juvenile Macular Degeneration. In fact, three of Charlie’s siblings from their close-knit family of six were also diagnosed with the genetic disease.

During the next several years, while his blindness progressed, Collins battled with mental and emotional demons. He experienced several stages of distress; anger, shame, disbelief. He could not participate with classmates in most school activities, he was picked on, ostracized, he felt stupid and never quite fit in anywhere. His self-esteem hit rock bottom. “I felt completely alone out there and unequipped to live an independent, productive life.” Doctors told him nothing could be done to help him. “I focused only on the problem and never a solution,” says Collins. He considered suicide, but he just couldn’t bear to do it.

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