Video Transcript:
We live in a world where when we find out a diagnosis and what we have, we immediately think, "Okay, how can we cure this?" In low vision, that's not what we're aiming for. Low vision isn't about curing low vision. It's about thriving with low vision; and when it comes to thriving, what thriving looks like is different for every patient.
The reason it's different for every patient isn't because of their diagnosis. It's because of the functions that they've lost as a result of their diagnosis. So if card playing was your biggest hobby, then the way to help you with low vision is to help you play cards better. And in that context, maybe something like playing cards that are larger would be an incredibly useful low vision device for you.
Now, if you are someone who is an avid reader, those large print playing cards might not be particularly beneficial. You might benefit more from something like a Kindle or something where you can enlarge the print. So when I think of low vision, if I'm an ophthalmologist, the diagnosis is very important because you're trying to help with the physiological effects of the condition.
But we're not trying to help with the physiological effects of low vision. We're trying to help with the functional effects of low vision. It's very important to look at, "Hey, what is it about this low vision that is reducing your quality of life?" Because if we don't ask that question, we are going to come up with "solutions" that are completely ineffective. Because if you don't care about the thing that we offer in low vision rehabilitation, it's no use to you, and we're not helping you with your low vision.
So when we're thinking about low vision, it is so incredibly important to just think about the function that is lost and how we can repair or replace or supplement that function for you.
When you think of low vision that way, the questions that you ask are very different. So one of the questions we'll get asked is, "Hey, what's the best tint for macular degeneration?" or "What's the best device for diabetic retinopathy?" And those aren't practical questions for you. The practical question is, "Hey, when are you most bothered by light?"
If the answer is, "When you go outside on a sunny day," the answer, the solution that's going to help you is going to be so much different than if you say, "Hey, it's really bothersome when I'm looking at a computer screen."
So when we think about low vision, it's important to reframe, reframe the entire narrative to talk about function versus diagnosis.
So much of the industry. So much of ophthalmology. So much of low vision and so many of the practitioners in the eyecare and eyewear world miss the mark on low vision because they're so hyper-focused on the diagnosis and not focused on the impairment that you're experiencing.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and is based on our experience in optical solutions. We are not medical doctors. Consult with your ophthalmologist, neurologist, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your treatment plan. The solutions discussed are intended to support, not replace, professional medical advice.