Marietta Richman has worked as a paraoptometric at Shore Family Eyecare for more than six years, starting by simply answering the phones. She trained under three optometrists and a CPOA, learning the basic ocular anatomy, then diagnostic testing and interpretation, advancing to working in the vision therapy room and with the low vision population. Marietta excels with the special needs population that comes to Shore Family Eyecare. Her drive to help in the field of optometry directed her to enter college in search of a Public Health degree to lead her to optometry school in the future.

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Macular degeneration (or age-related macular degeneration, abbreviated AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in America. The disease affects the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that re. This layer has photo-receptors that are stimulated by light and send signals to your brain, thereby generating vision. Specifically, AMD affects the central part of the retina called the macula and this is the portion of your eye that is used in primary visual activities that require the finest acuities, such as reading and driving. Macular degeneration occurs in either a dry (atrophic)or wet (exudative) form. In either case, the disease only affects the central vision and rarely causes total vision loss.

The majority of patients have the dry or atrophic type of macular degeneration. In this form of the disease, the slow deterioration of there tina is often coincidental with the formation of small yellow deposits,known as drusen, in the macular region. This accumulation of drusen leads to a thinning of the macular tissues, causing distortions in vision that initially appear as wavy. The eventual amount of central vision loss is directly related to the location or the amount of retinal thinning caused by the drusen.

The exudative, or wet form of the disease, is far less common (about 20%of AMD cases), but it is more aggressive and threatening to one’s vision. In the wet type of macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and macula through a process called neo-vascularization. These new blood vessels may bleed and leak fluid, thereby causing the macula to bulge or lift up, distorting or destroying central vision. In these circumstances, vision loss may be rapid and severe.

Although much research is being done on finding treatments for macular degeneration, no current treatment exists for the more common dry form,and the treatment for the wet form sometimes does not meet patient’s expectations. As macular degeneration advances the severity of the vision loss increases often requiring specialized low vision aids for macular degeneration. These devices are designed with the purpose to combine research, technology, and daily application for providing visual assistance to individuals living with macular degeneration. For many AMD patients, the use of low vision aids or vision rehabilitation is of great help and allows them to enhance their quality of life and remain independent.

Understanding the effects that AMD has on vision helps determine what features are preferred when finding the optimal low vision aids for macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration directly affects the light sensitive tissue in the eye, to which additional lighting will aid in tasks like reading and writing. Simple adjustments can be made in the home by increasing the presence of natural light, or by adding lamps that mimic natural lighting. Lighting selections are an ideal feature for vision aids for macular degeneration allowing adjustable increased lighting and contrast viewing modes,supporting the damaged retina.

Sharp, fine detail vision is also compromised as a result of macular degeneration. Visual aids that allow, black and white viewing modes, color,and other contrast/ sharp image focused features provide additional control and low vision support.

Some electronic low vision aids for macular degeneration allow screen-viewing modes that support the use of peripheral vision. The loss of central vision or missing spots in vision can be supported through the eccentric viewing options. For example, if you are using a handheld magnifier and viewing a photograph, you can the magnifier to the sight line of your peripheral vision. This is also helpful with menus, transportation schedules,and more. Tailoring to the vision strengths, our low vision aids for macular degeneration will increase supporting your remaining vision areas.

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of the United States will have a solar eclipse. The moon will cover at least part of the sun for 2 to 3 hours. Halfway through, anyone within a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse. The moon will completely block the sun’s bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. Day will turn into night, and (weather permitting) one of nature’s most awesome sights will become visible: the sun’s shimmering outer atmosphere, or corona. The American Optometric Association, in partnership with the American Astronomical Society, is providing detailed information so that you can safely view the eclipse.
Here are four ways to safely view a solar eclipse:
The only safe way to view a partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or viewers that meet international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing. Sunglasses, smoked glass, unfiltered telescopes or magnifiers, and polarizing filters are unsafe. If you can’t find eclipse viewers, build a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse.
Technique of the pros. Before looking at the sun, cover your eyes with the eclipse viewers while standing still. Glance at the sun, turn away and then remove your filter. Do not remove the filter while looking at the sun.
Totality awesome. Only within the path of totality-and once the moon completely blocks the sun-can eclipse viewers safely be removed to view totality. Once the sun begins reappearing, however, viewers must be replaced.
If you should experience discomfort or vision problems following the eclipse, visit Dr. Richman or Dr. Kinzley for a comprehensive eye examination.
We have a very limited supply of approved solar eclipse viewers that are available to our patients only. If interested, please like our page and stop in for your free pair.

There’s a place between 20/20 and blindness, and it’s called low vision. Most people whom have it are older and having other vision impairing problems. Low vision is not a disease in its own right, but it usually goes along with other age­ and health related conditions.

Diabetes with retinopathy, macular degeneration,glaucoma and cataracts are the usual suspects. About three million of them are in the United States. One definition of low vision is where eyesight is functionally impaired even with correction.

Functional impairment is extremely subjective so some people with vision of 20/50 are limited in what they can do while others at 20/200 are still successful at their daily activities. For example, “If an accountant can’t read spreadsheets with ordinary prescription glasses or contacts, they belong in the category of those with low vision,” he says. On the contrary, someone who is spending their days fishing or watching television may not be impacted.

For many, low vision also means legal blindness, defined as corrected visual sharpness of20/200 or worse in the better eye.There is help for people trying to live a normal life with low vision. Visual Aids are available to help with nearly all tasks. It sounds simple, but there’s high ­tech behind it.

The best method for people to improve their sight with low vision is just making things appear bigger.That’s where magnifiers come in and in several varieties:Eyeglass or spectacle­ mounted. Magnifiers and telescopes can be placed directly on glasses. This is good because it leaves hands free to do other things.

Magnifiers are for close-up tasks and telescopes for seeing things farther away (like a ball game, for example). Hand­held and stand: For on ­the­ go activities, hand­held magnifiers help people take better vision with them. Helpful for reading price tags, for instance. The stand type is better for prolonged reading as it doesn’t require steady hands. Electro­optical systems. These complex­ sounding tools are special closed-circuit TV devices that make video images larger.

Over the past few years, these have dominated the low vision doctors options as they offer greater flexibility, larger magnification and the prices have been reducing.Besides magnification options, there are plenty pretty easy time finding large­ print books, magazines and other reading materials. Mobile phones, iPads, Kindles and even basic web sites are also moving toward giving the option to increase image size on screen.

Additionally, illumination is a major help with most patients that are struggling with their vision. Using the appropriate lighting with full spectrum bulbs often is enough to take a person from difficult to functional.Clear vision and a sense of independence go hand-in- hand, so low vision aids are key for people living with the condition. Don’t let low vision limit the world around you; visit your eye doctor to learn which visual aids will work best for you.