Low Vision News
Our practice creates several different
newsletters on new technology in low vision. View PDF files at 100% for best
quality.
Volume
3, Issue 2 (PDF)
Volume
4, Issue 3 (PDF)
UFOV:
The Useful Field of View Test
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The
Useful Field of View (UFOV) is defined as the area from which one can
extract visual information in a brief glance without head or eye
movements. The limits of this area are reduced by poor vision,
difficulty dividing attention and/or ignoring distraction and slower
processing ability. UFOV researchers have defined cognitive impairment as a 40%
reduction in the Useful Field of View, and it is the point at which the
risk of crashing increases significantly.
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The
Low Vision Centers of Indiana have served as beta test sites for the UFOV
test. UFOV is supported by sixteen years of research by, Karlene Ball, PhD.
and Daniel Roenker, PhD. UFOV has
received over 25 million dollars in research funds from the National Institute
of Health and other agencies. It has been the subject of numerous scientific
studies, which have demonstrated that UFOV has a high correlation to crash
risk. It is particular sensitive to cognitive impairments of early
Alzheimer’s and acquired brain injury.
Jordy II Adds New Docking Station
| Enhanced Vision Systems has
released an amazing new docking station stand for the Jordy II. The new
stand includes a light, lockable table and a docking station connection
similar to a computer docking station. Sliding in the control unit into
the docking unit connects both the power and the video connection.
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users to remove and reconnect their systems. When worn on the head, the
Jordy can have up to 25X magnification. In the docking station connected
to a television, the total magnification is limited only by the size of
the television. It can easily obtain over 70X magnification on 25–27
inch television set. For
more information please contact any of our offices.
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Eye and Auto International
Meeting
Drs. Richard and Laura
Windsor attended the Eye and Auto International Symposium at Daimler Chrysler
in Auburn Hills Michigan. The world’s experts in vision and driving met for
three days to present the latest research in this area. The discussions
covered a range of topics from safety features in cars, driver testing,
bioptic driving to new tests to predict crash risk like the Useful Field of
View. Drs. Richard and Laura
Windsor will be presenting a two hour program on vision and driving at the
Indiana Optometric Association’s Fall Seminar in October.
Recently Published
Articles
Drs. Richard and Laura Windsor
collaborated to publish two articles. The first is “Understanding
Stargardt’s Disease”, which was the seventh in a series of articles
being written for Vision Enhancement
Journal. Each article in the series highlights the low vision aspects of a
different ocular condition. These articles are written for the layperson and
help explain the various visual problems the patients may encounter.
Other articles in
the series by the Windsors include “Understanding
Retinitis Pigmentosa”, “Albinism: Low
Vision Considerations”, “Understanding Nystagmus”, “The Many Visual
Problems of Macular Degeneration”, “Common Visual Problems of Ocular
Histoplasmosis Syndrome”, and “Common Vision Problems from Stroke or
Traumatic Brain Injury.” If
you would like a copy of any of these articles, please contact any of our
offices.
Additionally,
“An Introduction to Low Vision,” was the lead article published in
the spring issue of Rehab Professional
Journal. Drs. Richard and
Laura Windsor are also currently working on a book on rehabilitation of the
macular degeneration patient and a book chapter on the low vision
considerations in head injury.
New Redesigned Jordy II Arrives At Our Low
Vision Centers
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The Jordy II has arrived at
the Low Vision Centers of Indiana. We were one of the first practices in
the country to receive the recently redesigned system. The Jordy II was
introduced on CBS Good Morning America a few weeks ago. The new
system is lighter and compact, and this autofocusing system allows up to
25X magnification when worn. The Jordy can be headborne for doing
projects at intermediate distances like sewing, painting and repairing
items. It can be used for watching programs, viewing chalkboards and
seeing loved ones at a distance.
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The Jordy can be placed in a stand and
used as a conventional color or black and white CCTV system for reading
and writing as well. Through our experiences with the original Jordy,
this is the one of the only systems that has been a great benefit to our
profound visually impaired patients.
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Diabetic Low Vision Protocols
Specific Functional Needs of the Diabetic
Visually impaired diabetics have specific functional needs that must be
addressed in the low vision examination. Many of these are crucial to their
health and safety. Diabetics must see to fill insulin syringes and take oral
medications. They need to see to test their blood sugar and to read labels on
food containers to monitor their intake of carbohydrates. Diabetics may have
neuropathies affecting their feet. If patients are unable to see to examine
their feet and toes, care by their physician, podiatrist or family may be
needed to monitor the health of their feet.
The Diabetic Low Vision Protocols
We utilize a set of Diabetic Low Vision Protocols developed at the Low
Vision Clinic at John Hopkins to evaluate the functional vision of each
diabetic patient.
Diabetic Low Vision Protocols
Vision or Adaptive Steps to Address During the
Low Vision Exam:
Seeing to fill insulin syringes
Reading labels on medication bottles
Seeing to test blood sugar
Reading food nutritional labels
Seeing to perform foot care
Decreasing Glare (Especially Post Laser)
Testing for adequate visual field for night driving (Post Laser)
Educating on vision changes due to blood sugar fluctuations
Increasing awareness of decreased contrast sensitivity
Glare and Loss of Contrast Sensitivity
Glare and loss of contrast sensitivity may become problems in patients with
diabetic retinopathy, especially after pan-retinal photocoagulation. Laser is
crucial to saving the vision of diabetic, but patients often complain of a
"fuzzy glare" after laser, which responds well to light amber
filters. Because many diabetics experience color vision loss along the
yellow-blue axis, they are able to benefit from the contrast enhancement of
amber filters with less awareness of the yellow-amber color than those with
normal color vision. Safety in night driving must also be addressed due to
reduced side vision after PRP laser.
Low Vision Aids and Adaptive Devices
From simple magnifiers to closed circuit television systems, a wide range of
low vision aids are available to aid the visually impaired diabetic. In
addition to low vision aids, a number of adaptive devices may aid the visually
impaired diabetic. These include talking glucometers, needle funnel guides to
aid in inserting the needle in the insulin bottle and automatic insulin
loaders.
Our Work Hemianopsia Patient Care Featured on Breakthroughs
in Science
Our work with hemianoptic patients using the
Gottlieb Visual Field Awareness System was recently featured on Breakthroughs
in Science, a television science segment developed in cooperation with the
American Institute of Physics. Dr Windsor’s work with a young Indianapolis
stroke patient was presented. This video is being shown around the United
States as a part of the evening news. We also have an eleven-minute video
created by our group that explains more thoroughly our approach in the care of
hemianoptic patients. If you would like a copy of the video segment or our own
video on hemianoptic rehabilitation, contact any of our offices.
September 2001
New 3,000 sq ft Low Vision Center Being Built
in Fort Wayne
Low Vision Center of Fort Wayne has
expanded into a new 3,000 squarer foot facility near are present office at
Constitution Hill in Fort Wayne. The new facility include a new center devoted to
vision and driving evaluations, a new pediatric low vision examination room
and a new state of the art technology center.
Low Vision Center of
Indianapolis Opens
We are pleased to announce the opening of the Low Vision
Center of Indianapolis, a state of the art facility to assist low vision patients and
stroke/head injury patients with visual problems. The Low Vision
Center of Indianapolis has been created by
The Eye Associates Group, LLC., R.
Lewis Scott, O.D., Richard L. Windsor, O.D., Craig Allen Ford, O.D. and Todd J. Fettig,
O.D. Our practice was founded 104 years ago in Hartford City. Today, our Low Vision
Centers are located in Marion, Fort Wayne, Hartford City and Union City.
Our new center is located at 9002 North Meridian Street in
Suite 208 at the Price Whitson Vision Group. We are located just a few blocks south of
Interstate 465 on Meridian Street at the intersection of 91st Street. Our
telephone number is (317) 844-0919. Our fax number is (317) 844-3231, and e-mail address
is richw@eyeassociates.com . Our office is
open Monday through Friday. We see only low vision patients and patients with visual
problems related to brain injury. We want the Low Vision Center of Indianapolis to be a
national model for vision rehabilitation.
center in the World to receive the new Jordy
The
All in One Low Vision System
developed
by Enhanced Vision Systems. Jordy was featured in September on Good Morning
America
The Low Vision Gateway is
designed to serve as an entry point to nearly all the low vision and blindness resources
on the World Wide Web. It is a wonderful resource for patients, family and professionals.
The site is open to the public and thousands of people from around the world visit our
site each week. The Low Vision Gateway was developed by Dr. Richard Windsor,
Lucas Windsor of Windsor Web Design and Laura Windsor, optometry student at
Indiana University School of Optometry.
In 1974, Dr. Windsor prescribed a Designs
for Vision Type R microscopic bifocal to allow Mildred, a macular degeneration patient, to
read again. Twenty-six years later at age 102, Mildred still reads with a Type R
microscope. Dr. Windsor has refit her to higher power systems about every five years, but
has been able to keep Mildred reading for twenty-four years.