OE Patients

Tag: low vision

  • Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Personal Tutor

    Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Personal Tutor

    Something really good just got even better.  The reimagining and rebuilding of HadleyHelps.org was well underway as the COVID pandemic kicked in. Both the update and the timing feels perfect, delivered at a moment when it was so needed. The distance learning experts, with 100 years of experience, launched a newly designed program beautifully attuned to the needs of the largest demographic for vision loss, older adults.  And by the way, creating programs accessible for an aging population, actually, improve usability for everyone.

    Hadley 2.0 is the newly developed approach for adult learners. Video and audio based learning opportunities are now presented in smaller bites that take minutes instead of hours. You decide, for example, which features of the iPhone you want to learn and in what order. Feel free to repeat a workshop, or even a sentence, as many times as you need to, there’s no limit. No need to worry about failing here, it’s all about success.

    Image Shows senior woman smiling on hadleyhelps.org home page.
    Image Shows senior woman smiling on hadleyhelps.org home page.

    The pandemic compounded many of the challenges inherent to vision loss.  It became clear that technology skills are essential, although the training has not always been so readily available, especially from the privacy of your own pace.  Now you can log on to HadleyHelps.org and decide what you want to learn today. The primary categories are: Daily Living, Technology, Adjusting to Vision Loss, Braille, Recreation, and Working. A click on Technology brings up subcategories: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Apple Watch & TV, Talking Books, and Zoom. Selecting iPhone & iPad brings up the courses organized by series. The very first is iPhone & iPad Low Vision Features, segmented into five quick courses: Zoom, Text Size, Dark Mode, Speak Screen, and Magnifier.  Similar to a tasting menu, Hadley’s small bites are abundant and delicious, don’t stop at one, enjoy them all.  Explore the entire catalog here.

    The technology offers, alone, is enough to trigger a celebration, but there are many more topics and perks available to Hadley subscriber.

    • No fees or costs to the user.
    • Ask the Experts for a live tutorial.
    • Call in and join an interactive Discussion Group on a variety of topics including: cooking, crafting, writing, gardening, travel, Braille, and Spanish.
    • Listen to Hadley Presents Podcast.
    • Transcripts are available for all content.
    • Have a workshop printed and mailed.
    • Get alerts and email notifications.
    • Provide feedback after every workshop, Hadley is paying attention.

    I have been a fan, a follower, and a Hadley learner, personally and professionally since discovering the iPhone VoiceOver Tutorials by Douglas Walker while on staff at Lighthouse. We often share Hadley links on OE and featured Hadley in the OE Patients Podcast Episode 3. The Hadley Institute is a nonprofit organization living up to its mission to create personalized learning opportunities that empower those with vision loss to thrive — at home, at work, and in their communities.  Take advantage of Hadley’s learning opportunities and don’t forget to give back, from time to time, by supporting the great work they do with a charitable donation.

  • Hindsight is 2020

    Hindsight is 2020

    As we get ready to say “good riddance” to 2020, it is worth taking a moment to review how very different this year turned out from the one we were expecting.  It has been a difficult year in many ways for everyone, while it imposed much greater pain on some than on others. We learned that living in a pandemic, like living with vision loss, requires a willingness to adapt, adjust and accept that life is going to be different. 2020 is a year we will remember vividly and with the clarity its number represents. So before waving so long and farewell, let’s take a look at some of the titles on OE Patients that recall why hindsight is 2020.

    If you’d prefer to have the text of pages on OE read to you, just click the button marked “Listen” on the upper right menu.

    Image of social distance line markers. of social distance line markers.
    Image of social distance line markers.

    The New, New Normal

    Until recently the concept of social distancing, or self isolating, was generally discouraged, especially for people with vision loss. Now it’s a necessity for our ongoing health and well-being. Just a few weeks ago, seeing someone veer off course, to avoid getting too close, or refusing to ride an elevator with you, would have felt very strange. Now we are raising a hand to show appreciation for the consideration of the expanded need for personal space. The wave has supplanted the smile, which is no longer detectable under our masks. And with nose and mouth coverings mandated, many more people are finding their ability to recognize faces is temporarily impaired. Read More

     

    Image of Cats Production on Broadway.
    Image of Cats Production on Broadway.

    Accessing the Arts in Place

    Online, it is also possible to continue enjoying culture and the arts through virtual tour and live-stream video. For people with vision loss, streaming live events can assure a seat front and center. Here are just a few of the options, although a Google search will reveal an abundance to choose from. Some opportunities are for a limited period while live gatherings are discouraged. Read More

     

    Closeup Image of Doctor's Eyes in a Surgical Mask
    Closeup Image of Doctor’s Eyes in a Surgical Mask

    Ophthalmology in a Time of Corona

    As ophthalmologists move from the urgent care-only phase, to scheduling routine eye exams again, it is important to know how patient safety is being protected. By now, all practices should be posting updated pandemic policies prominently on the homepage of their website, and including the update in the recorded messaging for patients contacting the office by phone. Being aware of the changes you will encounter during your next office visit will elevate your comfort and trust in the process. Read More

     

    Colorful cleaning supplies on a light pink background.
    Colorful cleaning supplies on a light pink background.

    Spring 2020: Get Clean and Sanitized

    The first day of Spring 2020 arrived with very little fanfare. Our focus instead turned to copious cleansing, social distancing and sheltering in place. It can be difficult not to dwell on the devastating COVID-19 news of the day. Staying healthy and safe is everyone’s priority.  We suggested a spring cleaning project as a needed boost to mental health and overall well-being, although these tips apply all year long. Read More

     

    OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.
    OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.

    Dr. Allen Ho Talks Pandemic Safety & Eye Care

    Listen to our insightful conversation with internationally recognized retina specialist, Allen. C. Ho, MD on the risks of deferring eye exams, the implementation of safety measures and how the lessons of the pandemic can improve options of convenience for patients longterm. Listen Here

     

    OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.
    OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.

    WFH – Work From Home

    Making work from home work for you, with Dorrie Rush, Jane Breheney and Jaydan Mitchell. Listen Here

     

    Image shows: Hands holding envelope with “VOTE” printed on it.
    Image shows: Hands holding envelope with “VOTE” printed on it.

    Voting with Vision Loss 2020

    To be sure, the United States election of 2020 was an historic day inside a record-breaking year. Because we voted in a pandemic, more accessible voting options were extended to all eligible voters. The expansion of early voting, and voting by absentee ballot, provides every voter with the opportunity to vote safely while minimizing the potential for crowding at polling venues. Read More

     

    Image shows financial documents for estate planning.
    Image shows financial documents for estate planning.

    Putting Your Affairs in Order

    There is no denying, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to ask ourselves some important questions. Have I prioritized my health and well-being? Do I have enough saved for an emergency? Do I want the ventilator or not? Who gets my property should I die? Suddenly we faced the cold realization, there is no guarantee of tomorrow. As social activities deferred to a later date, the idea of creating a will began moving to the top of many a to-do list. Read More

    Subscribe to our Monthly Roundup emails so you won’t miss a thing in 2021!  Sign Up Now

  • Your Smartphone is a Comprehensive Low Vision Device

    Your Smartphone is a Comprehensive Low Vision Device

    Living with vision loss, like living in a pandemic, requires us to accept change and embrace technology. Digital access is no longer an option, it is a necessity.  Every patient experiencing changes in vision should know there are a multitude of accessibility options, available in their smartphones (and tablets), designed to help compensate low vision.

    Apple & Android offer similar accessibility options including:

    • Text Size increased and bolded
    • Screen Brightness adjusted
    • Dictation converts speech to text
    • VoiceOver, Talk Back screen readers
    • Zoom magnifies entire screen
    • video Magnifier up to 15x
    • Improve color contrast
    • Reverse contrast to white text on black
    • Color filters for legibility
    • Adjust intensity and brightness of colors
    • Speak Selection reads selected content aloud
    • Speak Screen reads page aloud from top to bottom
    • Highlight Content as it is spoken
    • Typing Feedback spoken
    • Select voice and set speaking rate
    • Audio Descriptions for video content
    • FaceTime, Google Duo or other apps for video calls

    Voice Assistants

    Siri, Google & Alexa await your voice command. Ask them to open apps, make calls, send messages, search the web, tell time, get weather, turn on lights, play music and much, much more.

    More on OE: Siri, Google & Alexa Podcast, Event Recap

    Mobile Apps

    Here are a few or the many special apps designed to help compensate visual loss.

    • Seeing AI, by Microsoft for iOS, is an intelligent camera app that reads text, identifies products, people, currency, color, scenes, and handwriting.
    • Soundscape, by Microsoft for iOS, a map with 3D sound provides background narration into your earbuds from the left, right and center, telling where you are, what’s around you and what’s ahead.
    • LookOut, by Google for Android, camera vision delivers information in 3 modes: Explore describes your environment, Shopping reads product barcodes and currency, and Quick Read reads signs, labels and mail.
    • Google Maps Detailed Voice Guidance, by Google for iOS & Android, added voice guidance feature in the apps navigation settings.
    • Aira, an acronym for AI Remote Assistance, teams artificial intelligence with live agents to help people with vision loss get around and get things done. The subscriber model combines both free and fee-based service options.
    • Be My Eyes, has 3 million volunteers signed up to assist 200 thousand visually impaired users, when they need to borrow a better pair of eyes, or directly speak with technical support or customer service at Microsoft, Google, and more.

    Accessibility Support Phone Lines

    Don’t go it alone, expert technical advice is a phone call away.

    • Apple Accessibility Support: 877-204-3930
    • Google Accessibility Support: Call on Be My Eyes app
    • Alexa Technical Support: 877-375-9365
    • Amazon Accessibility Service: 888-283-1678
    • Microsoft Accessibility Answer Desk: 800-936-5900
    • Verizon Wireless Accessibility Support: 888-262-1999

    More on OE: Accessibility Support Phone Lines

    Image of downloadable PDF.
    Image of the first page of the downloadable PDF.

     

    Image of second page of downloadable PDF.
    Image of the second page of downloadable PDF.

    Download a printable PDF of this information here.

  • Episode 10: WFH – Work From Home

    Episode 10: WFH – Work From Home

    Making work from home work for you, with Dorrie Rush, Jane Breheney and Jaydan Mitchell.

    Full Playlist:

  • Best of OE 2019

    Best of OE 2019

    As the pandemic continues, we can’t help but feel nostalgic for 2019, so let’s circle back for a look at OE’s top pages last year.  Here’s the list with links, for our most popular posts and podcasts.  If you’d prefer to have the text of pages read to you, just click the button marked “Listen” on the upper right menu.

     

    Fresh vegetables and fruits spread out on a gray table.

    The Anti-AMD Diet

    The foods we consume can play a powerful role in preventing or minimizing the progression of age-related macular degeneration.  Read Now

     

    Worker with hard hat falling onto concrete floor.
    Worker with hard hat falling onto concrete floor.

    Don’t Take The Fall, Prevent It

    Falling becomes significantly more dangerous as we age.  Alice Massa, OT, shares her expert advice aimed at elevating awareness and lowering our risk of taking the fall at all.  This page was so popular, we decided to record a podcast with the same title…linked with our podcasts below.  Read Now

     

    Three seniors using different technology in a living room.

    OE Agrees With AAO

    The American Academy of Ophthalmology says many more people will have low vision in the coming years and the tragedy is most are unaware of how to deal with it.  OE highlights the information everyone needs to know.  
    Read Now

     

    Alexa app screen showing a list of featured and new books.

    Alexa, Read My Book

    Alexa can read Kindle and Audible books from a Fire tablet or an Echo speaker.  Once it’s set up, all you have to do is ask.  Read Now

     

    View of the left side of a black car with Uber sticker.

    Your Driver Has Arrived

    Ride-sharing services are available with the tap of an app.  Here are some tips for customers with vision loss.
    Read Now

     

    Couple dancing together in a living room.

    Healthy Aging And Eyes

    Healthy aging is not just about how you look, it has everything to do with how you see.  Take these steps today to preserve your sight for tomorrow.  Read Now

     

    Hand taking a picture of supermarket bottles with a smartphone.

    Aira Adds A Free Tier

    If you’ve ever wished you could just borrow a good pair of eyes to help with a quick task, you’ll definitely want to read this post.  Read Now

     

    Hands holding present with Christmas gifts and ornaments around on a green background.
    Hands holding a present with more gifts and ornaments on a green background.

    Hottest Low Vision Gifts

    Our gift guide from last season remained a top page all year and the selection holds up beautifully. Read Now

    This year’s list is also not to be missed.  Read Now

     

    OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.

    OE Patients Podcast

    There is no doubt about it, the big star of 2019 was the launch of our podcast.  Subscribe to OE Patients Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on OE.

    Episode 1: Siri, Google & Alexa

    Episode 2: Don’t Take The Fall, Prevent It

    Episode 3: A Conversation With Hadley’s Douglas Walker

    Subscribe to our Monthly Roundup emails so you won’t miss a thing in 2020!  Sign Up Now

    This post was first published December 19, 2019 and resurfaced September 3, 2020. 

  • Meditation Made Easy

    Meditation Made Easy

    Although life has slowed in some ways during the COVID pandemic, this is most likely not a time you are feeling at one with the universe.  You may be experiencing a chronic sense of alarm, or a constant undercurrent of anxiety. And coping with vision loss, on top of that, usually adds its own layer of insecurity. Wouldn’t you love to find a way to get a daily dose of Zen?

    Let’s try meditation. It doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming for it to work, and you can begin benefitting from just a few minutes a day, right away. The more you do, the better you get. The simple act of being still and breathing deeply lowers stress hormones and can help with depression, anxiety and sleep issues. Meditation is a loving and mellow fitness program for your mind. No Sweat. 

    There are plenty of apps and guided meditations available to try, but the best way to begin a mediation practice may be this totally uncomplicated 4-step approach.

    1. Designate a place to meditate each morning at the same time.

    2. Mute your phone and turn off all other noise you can control.

    3. Sit in a chair with back straight, shoulders relaxed, feet on the floor and hands in your lap with palms up or down. The idea is to be as neutral as possible so there’s no need to fidget.

    4. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take a long breath in and let it out slowly. Listen to the rhythm of your breathing.

    Commit to at least 5 minutes each morning for the first week. When you feel ready, add a second meditation at the end of the day and increase the time of each practice to 10, 15 or 20 minutes as you progress.

    To get started, keep it as simple as possible. Set a gentle timer so you won’t have to think about the time that has elapsed. Your mind will wander, that’s okay, bring it back to focus on the breathing. It may be helpful to count to 4 as you inhale and again as you exhale. Feel free to add some soothing music, a version of the lotus position, and a peaceful word or mantra, if you like.

    This is simple, entry level meditating. Keep it up and feel the benefits, short term and long. Or let it be the springboard to becoming a Zen Master. Either way, it’s just minutes a day, and your mind, body and soul will thank you for it.

  • GoGo Grandparent Gets An Uber Without An App

    GoGo Grandparent Gets An Uber Without An App

    Uber and Lyft are technology companies operating new-age transportation networks on a global scale. Their names have become synonymous with dated terminology like taxi or cab. They deliver transportation to people where and when they need it. The entire process fully transacted on a  smartphone app.

    Naturally, this seems like a perfect fit for the transportation needs of older adults. But according to a study by PEW Research, less than 1% of Uber customers are 65 and older, while about 4 in 10 seniors are using smartphones.

    Justin Boogaard was living with his Grandma Betty, after college, when she gave him the idea for GoGo Grandparent. Betty noticed her grandson was taking a lot of Ubers wherever he needed to go. She recognized this could be a great way for her to get around as well and she wanted to get in on the action. One problem: Uber can only be summoned by app, and Betty didn’t have a smartphone.

    Image shows a grandmother happy and talking on the phone.
    Image shows a grandmother happy and talking on the phone.

    Necessity is, after all, the grandmother of invention. Justin set out to find Betty an easier way to get an Uber, and a startup was born. GoGo Grandparent takes the app out of the equation as it adds people back in. Less technology and more personal attention open up these transportation services to a significant demographic they would not have otherwise attracted. With GoGo Grandparent the transaction is conducted by phone, with customer service agents. They order the car, communicate with the driver, and monitor your trip.

    There is technically no age requirement, so you don’t actually have to be a Grandparent and you can schedule a ride from any phone you choose. The concierge fee for this service is $0.27 a minute, which means if the ride takes 15 minutes the fee added to your fare is $4.05.

    Uber and Lyft cars are notoriously difficult to locate, particularly if you are visually impaired. GoGo Grandparent can help by making the driver aware and by providing the customer with more detailed location information.

    Image shows a smiling grandfather talking on phone.
    Image shows a smiling grandfather talking on phone.

    GoGo Grandparent recently added a membership requirement and new services – here’s an update.

    Basic Membership

    The basic membership now carries a monthly fee of $9.99, enabling customers to order an Uber or Lyft from any phone, no app required. There is also a Concierge Fee, of $0.27 per minute, added to the fare and billed to your credit card by GoGo Grandparent. No cash is exchanged. Set up custom pick up locations, use voice commands for ordering, and set up family alerts to keep your loved ones in the loop.

    Gold Client Membership

    An upgrade to GoGo Gold Client is $30 a month and and it offers premium perks including:

    • Driver rings your doorbell, buzzer, or house phone
    • Driver accompanies you to the car
    • Gold Client calls are priority transferred to an operator
    • One cancellation free every month
    • Prescription pickup & delivery

    GoGo Gourmet & Grocery Deliveries

    Just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic, GoGo Grandparent expanded its app-free ordering to include food and groceries delivered to your door.  Restaurant orders are fulfilled by delivery services like DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates and Uber Eats, with a Concierge Fee of $6.50 per order for Basic Members, $2 for Gold Clients. Groceries are fulfilled locally by Instacart, Walmart, Postmates and Shipt, with a Concierge Fee of $13 for Basic Members and $5 for Gold Clients.

    If this sounds interesting and you think you’d like to try it out, GoGo will also give you a 30-day free trial.

    Phone: 855.464.6872

    GoGoGrandparent.com

    Please note, this article was not paid for, affiliated with, or endorsed by any third-party companies. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.

    Originally published on October 2, 2017 and updated on June 17, 2020.

  • Elevating Accessibility Awareness Everyday

    Elevating Accessibility Awareness Everyday

    Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is recognized on the third Thursday in May, and has been since 2012. The focus on digital access and inclusion has progressed in meaningful ways over the past decade, and the future holds endless possibility. This is an effort that unifies people of all ability.

    At OE we celebrate and elevate accessibility awareness everyday, and we think you should too. For people with vision loss, information about accessibility often travels from person to person, so please go ahead and spread the word!  Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your coworkers and your healthcare providers about the accessibility features in technology devices that promote equal access. Living with uncorrectable vision loss brings many challenges, but utilizing accessible technologies can give us back a sense of normal.

    As we have seen during the COVID pandemic, the use of technology is no longer an option; it is essential. Accessibility doesn’t always just work for you, you must also be willing to work for it. Become an advocate. By helping yourself, you can also help others. Learn about the accessibility of the products and services you engage with. A Google search of any product with the word “accessibility’ is an enlightening exercise – try it.

    Big Tech, as you would imagine, has the most comprehensive accessibility detail available online. They have been building this effort for many years now and it shows. They also offer specialized accessibility support to customers, in the interest of providing an excellent customer experience. Take advantage of these opportunities and always share feedback when you find something that can be improved.

    Here is the pertinent accessibility contact and links for Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon, but first we’re sharing our comprehensive list of accessibility phone support lines.

    Accessibility Phone Lines You Should Know

    Universal Access symbol image.
    Universal Access symbol image.

    Apple Accessibility

    Web: apple.com/accessibility

    Phone Accessibility Support: 877-204-3930

    Email Feedback: [email protected]

    Microsoft Accessibility

    web: microsoft.com/accessibiity

    Phone Accessibility Support: 800-936-5900

    Send Accessibility Feedback

    Google Accessibility

    google.com/accessibility

    Accessibility Support on the Be My Eyes app

    Send Accessibility Questions

    Send Accessibility Feedback

    Amazon Accessibility

    amazon.com/accessibility

    Phone Accessibility Support: 888-283-1678

    Send Feedback: [email protected]

  • Episode 5: A Conversation with Ben Benson, Restaurateur

    Episode 5: A Conversation with Ben Benson, Restaurateur

    In this episode, restaurateur Ben Benson shares his experience building a successful business, all the while dealing with progressive vision loss. He takes us from the start of TGI Fridays, to Smith & Wollensky and Ben Benson’s Steakhouse. He speaks of the many adjustments he made throughout, and how his favorite technologies — iPhone, Siri and Alexa — help him compensate today.

     

    Full Playlist:

  • Communicate Better with Your Doctor

    Communicate Better with Your Doctor

    A visit to your eye doctor can come and go in a blur. Discussing a loss of sight is a dreadful thought — however, avoiding it will not yield positive results either. Time with the ophthalmologist may be brief, so it is important to be prepared and engaged. Considering these steps, before every appointment, will help you be an informed patient.

    • If you do not understand something the doctor says, or the terminology used, feel free to say, “I don’t understand, please explain.” Don’t be afraid to speak up.
    • Summarize back what you heard, to clarify your understanding. “So you are telling me that age-related macular degeneration will make me blind?” The doctor responds, “No, I am saying that there will be some loss of your central vision, possibly to the level of legal blindness, but macular degeneration does not cause total blindness.”
    • Request written materials, or even pictures or videos that you can take time to understand and absorb at home.
    • Ask about best-case and worst-case scenarios, and what is the most-likely scenario for you?

     

    Image of ophthalmology office activity.
    • Write your questions and bring someone with you as an advocate, to read the questions on your behalf, and to take notes.
    • If treatment is available, understand the risks involved. “Can injections in the eye cause glaucoma?” 
    • Ask if there is someone you can talk to, who is living with the condition, or has received the treatment.
    • If treatment is not available, ask for alternative therapies or lifestyle changes that may help your longterm prognosis and quality of life. Don’t accept “nothing can be done” for an answer.
    • If you are told nothing can be done to improve your vision, ask your ophthalmologist for information and resources to help you live successfully with vision loss, including referral to a low vision specialist and vision rehabilitation services.

    It is crucial to be an Informed Patient when considering treatment or potential participation in a clinical trial. Clearly review, discuss and weigh the possible benefits against the risks. Consent forms are often many pages of medical and legal jargon — challenging for anyone to read, but especially hard with a visual impairment. Do not sign or agree to anything you have not read and understood completely.

     

  • Episode 4: Must Know Info About Adjusting to Low Vision

    Episode 4: Must Know Info About Adjusting to Low Vision

    Too many patients with low vision believe “nothing can be done” to improve their quality of life. In this episode Dorrie Rush and Jaydan Mitchell are busting that myth with a review of just the basics everyone needs to know about living better with vision loss.

     

    Full Playlist:

  • Letter from the Editor 2020

    Letter from the Editor 2020

    Dorrie Rush, Chief Content Editor of OEPatients.org

    2020 Is A Year for Clarity

    We’re kicking off 2020, a number which, by my Google Assistants definition, also denotes vision of normal sharpness.  A wonderful thought, but for many of us normal vision is not likely to become reality any time soon.  There is, however, so much we can do to improve the lives we live with vision loss, and that is our mission, at OE Patients, for the foreseeable future.  The numbers of older Americans living with low vision will double in coming years, and according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), “most of the people impacted believe nothing can be done to improve their quality of life.” 

    Twenty years ago, I was a member of this misinformed population.  I distinctly recall posing the questions to the ophthalmologists as my vision loss progressed. “Is there somewhere I should go? Someone I should see? A class or course I can take to learn how I can continue living with severely impaired eyesight?”  The response was usually a variation on, “Nothing can be done.”  Although, it seems implausible two decades later, this may very well be the answer patients are still hearing today.

    Is it possible this error in communication comes down to a huge misunderstanding?  Physicians collectively and correctly view their role as healer.  When there is no treatment for the disease, no correction for the visual loss, they may feel the next stage is not in their jurisdiction.  Patients also conflate the declaration, “Nothing can be done (medically),” with “There is nothing YOU can do (either).”  Both physicians and patients take part in this mix up, and both can do their part to fix it.

    Many ophthalmologists today do take a moment to encourage patients to begin making adjustments from the earliest stages of vision loss and to recommend helpful resources.  They also refer to a low vision specialist who will evaluate the best ways a patient can maximize their remaining vision, utilize available low vision devices and adjust the vision settings on their personal technologies.  On the patients side, we certainly know many today, like our OE subscribers, are savvy self-advocates, actively engaged in the process of adjusting to, and living with vision loss. 

    In 2001, I joined the staff of Lighthouse International and began to understand the services offered by a vision rehabilitation agency.  I was advantaged by the full access to expert and professional resources and advice, from which I benefitted greatly.  An essential factor in my ongoing successful adjustment to progressing vision loss, was that I got an early start.  Most patients are not referred for vision rehab services until they are legally blind, which is the threshold for reimbursement.  Waiting to qualify for legal blindness, can also create an insurmountable set back. 

    In 2017, the Association for Macular Diseases and Ophthalmic Edge joined forces to launch OEPatients.org with the objective to elevate awareness by offering an added level of empowering information, not typically available in the physicians office.  Our digital magazine format has an option to “Listen” instead of read, at the top right menu on every page.  In the fall of 2019, we added the OE Patients Podcast (on OE, Apple and Spotify) to expand our content offering on Adjusting, Technology, Health and Voices of Experience. 

    Let’s work together to make 2020 a year for improved communication and focus on Living Better with Low Vision.  We’ll all benefit. Join Us!