Rural Missouri - January 2018 - 6

Local Eye Doctors Help
Legally Blind To See
High Technology For Low Vision Patients Allows Many To Drive Again
that will give you the independence
you've been looking for. Patients with
vision in the 20/200 range can many
times be improved to 20/50 or better.
Macular degeneration is the
leading cause of blindness and vision
loss in people over 50. Despite this,
most adults are not familiar with the
condition.
As many as 25% of those over the
age of 50 have some degree of macular
degeneration. The macula is only one
small part of the retina; however, it is
the most sensitive and gives us sharp
central vision. When it deteriorates,
For many patients with macular
macular degeneration leaves a blind
degeneration and other vision-related spot right in the center of vision,
conditions, the loss of central visual
making it difficult or impossible to
detail also signals the end to one of the recognize faces, read a book, or pass
last bastion of independence: driving. the driver's vision test.
Missouri optometrists Dr. Ryan
Nine out of 10 people who have
Broyles & Dr. Jill Mogil and Illinois
macular degeneration have the dry
optometrist Dr. Marianne McDaniel form. New research suggests vitamins
are using miniaturized telescopes
can help. The British medical journal
that are mounted in glasses to help
BMC Ophthalmology recently
people who have lost vision from
reported that 56% of patients treated
macular degeneration and other eye
with a high-dose combination of
conditions.
vitamins experienced improved vision
"Some of my patients consider me
after six months.
the last stop for people who have
While age is the most significant
vision loss," said Dr. Broyles, who,
risk factor for developing the disease,
along with Drs Mogil and McDaniel
heredity, smoking, cardiovascular
are part of a group of only a few
disease, and high blood pressure have
doctors in the world who specialize in also been identified as risk factors.
fitting bioptic telescopes to help those
Macular degeneration accounts
who have lost vision due to macular
for 90% of new legal blindness in the
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy,
U.S. While there is currently no cure,
and other debilitating eye diseases.
promising research is being done on
Imagine a pair of glasses that can
many fronts. "My job is to figure out
improve your vision enough to change everything and anything possible to
your life. If you're a low vision patient, keep a person functioning, especially
you've probably not only imagined
driving," says Dr. McDaniel.
them, but have been searching for
"Bioptic telescopes can cost over
them. Bioptic telescopes may be the
$2,000," said Dr. Mogil, "especially
breakthrough in optical technology
if we build them with an automatic
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sunglass."
"The major benefit of the bioptic
telescope is that the lens automatically
focuses on whatever you're looking at,"
said Dr. Broyles. "It's like a self-focusing
camera, but much more precise."

A scene as it might be viewed by a person
with age-related macular degeneration.

To learn more about bioptic
telescopes or to schedule a
consultation call today.

Ryan Broyles, O.D.
(816) 229-3001

Serving The Greater Kansas City Area

www.LowVisionMidwest.com

Marianne McDaniel, O.D.
(802) 350-6599

Serving Western Illinois

www.LowVisionOfSouthIL.com

Jill Mogil, O.D.

(833) 376-6445

Serving The Greater St. Louis Area

www.LowVisioniCare.com
http://www.LowVisionMidwest.com http://www.LowVisionOfSouthIL.com http://www.LowVisioniCare.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - January 2018
