Low Vision Support

Each month we have a meeting at Warkworth’s Summerset Retirement Village for people with Low Vision. Low Vision is most commonly due to glaucoma and macular degeneration, but there are a wide range of causes. When regular glasses are no longer the solution to keep reading or driving, extra support is needed to continue living independently, enjoying books and other hobbies. This group share tips and many have found it good to know they are not the only ones struggling.

Last month Katie Mitchell, Community Outreach Librarian, met with our group and introduced a range of library services.

- Warkworth Library has volunteers available to visit people who are home bound.

-The collection of large print books is extensive as we can access 55 libraries in the Auckland region.

-Audio books are available either on CDs or to hire digitally - listen on a phone or iPad.

- Help is available to match people up with fiction and non fiction titles.

Our next meeting is 1.30pm, Monday 26 August and we hope to demonstrate some of the modern tech solutions which can help with everyday tasks. Let us know if you would like to come along.

Videos show how glaucoma impacts on vision.

Each July there is a push to raise awareness of glaucoma, and encourage people over 40 years of age to embrace regular eye examinations. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerves. Your eyes tell your brain what you see via your optic nerves. Each optic nerve contains over a million nerve fibres. Early glaucoma is a symptomless condition but as the disease progresses there is a loss of peripheral vision.

Check out the link below which shows glaucoma progressive vision loss in different scenarios; navigating stairs, working with numbers, driving and standing in a kitchen. The videos also show the effects which are seen in our clinical tests.

View videos on Glaucoma In Perspective education website.

I Need You Reading Glasses

We have a great range of I Need You reading glasses. These are perfect if you don’t need individualized prescription glasses, or to have as a spare pair. I Need You reading glasses are designed by a German Optician who has an eye for new trends. These readers are manufactured according to stringent European standard (DIN EN 14163) for the exacting German customer.

There are great choices; find your favourite style and update your wardrobe with new colours. I Need You glasses are a fashion statement for people who want a little more pizzazz with their hobby glasses.

Having a baseline helps

We recommend a ‘baseline’ eye scan for people over 40 years old coming to us for regular eye examinations. OCT stands for scanning technology Optical Coherence Tomography. Scanning lets us ‘see’ tissue behind the visible retina inside the eye. In the past 5 years these scans have become invaluable in monitoring your eye health.

Most of us know the importance of regular checks to protect our future eyesight and acknowledge how precious our eyesight is. Documenting a ‘normal and healthy’ situation gives us the best chance of catching problems early. These detailed measurements of your eye form a baseline we can compare back to - a useful check.

How often should you have eye scans?

Once we have a baseline scan then repeating every 5 years is smart. If there are other concerns during your regular exam we will recommend repeating the eye scans.

We use more comprehensive scans when we are monitoring eye conditions such as Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration. In these conditions different scans help us determine if things are progressing or stable.

Winter sun gets in your eyes

During winter, the sun doesn’t rise quite as high as it does in the summer. Low winter sun can cause glare when driving, due to the angle which the light hits your windshield. This glare can temporarily blind drivers, making it impossible to see the road. 

UV rays are just as harmful in the winter as during summer. These are good reasons to protect your eyes in the winter months, here are our tips.

Wear Sunglasses

Sunglasses can help significantly, blocking out the glare. Polarized lenses are coated with a thin film designed to reduce glare. And these lenses will also protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV exposure. Keep sunglasses in your car and you will be set.

Clean your windscreen

A dirty windscreen can make glare worse. Light coming in refracts off any dirt or smudges on the glass, making it harder to see. Remember to clean the inside of your windscreen too. Use a cleaner designed specifically for glass or windscreens.

Replace old wiper blades

Poor vision due to low winter sun is worse when it’s raining or the road is wet. Wiper blades that leave streaks or don’t work effectively can intensify the glare.

Be My Eyes - Become a Digital Volunteer

Check out this wonderful innovation. Be My Eyes is an App for your phone which connects people with low vision to sighted volunteers, all over the world.

How does it work? It is simple to follow. If you want to help people with low vision you can download the App and then you can respond to requests for help. For example, a person with low vision may not be able to read a label on their medication, but through the App they will use the camera on their phone to show a sighted helper, who could be anywhere in the world, what they cannot see. Our team at McDonald Adams has already signed on ready to help - perhaps you will too?

Be My Eyes began in Aarhus, a small town in Denmark, with one guy who had a great idea. The founder is Hans Jørgen. He is not a software developer. Nor would he describe himself as particularly tech-savvy. He has low vision, trained in philosophy and works as a craftsman. But first and foremost, Hans Jørgen has big ideas and a deep interest in improving society however possible.

Link to this video from the TEDx conference in Copenhagen, and hear Hans Jørgen tell the story of how he came up with the idea for a simple App that has become a small revolution in the world of volunteering:

In the video below you can hear users describe their experience.