Richard J. Shuldiner, OD, F.A.A.O.
Her vision loss was also turning into a loss of friends and social contacts.
Corona, California (PRWEB) September 11, 2013
A pair of specially developed reverse telescope glasses proved to be a trump card in solving the problems of a low vision patient who liked to play bridge but could no longer do so because of complex sight issues.
Richard J. Shuldiner, OD, F.A.A.O., a California optometrist who is Clinical Director of Low Vision Optometry in Southern California and Founder of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS), said he made the glasses because as a low vision optometrist and a card player himself he had dual insight into the woman’s problems.
The patient and her husband, married for over 50 years, both liked to play cards and her vision issues were affecting them both. Her field of vision was 25 degrees, with most people having a 180-degree field. “It’s not that she could not tell a king from a queen, but when she arranges the cards in suits out sideways, her field of vision is not wide enough to take them all in,” said Dr. Shuldiner.
Telescopic glasses have two lenses: one is close to the eye (objective) and the other is further from it (ocular). In this case, Dr. Shuldiner literally reversed the lenses in the woman’s prescription so that the ocular was in the objective position, and objective was in the ocular position. “The only way to make the card playing field bigger is to make it smaller. When you look through a telescope the wrong way it makes things smaller but includes a wider field of vision. So when I reversed the lenses, she could see all the cards at once.”
“Reverse telescopes have been used very sparingly because people have a hard time adapting to them,” said Dr. Shuldiner. “In this case the patient had a number of eye problems, including central and peripheral vision loss. Her vision loss was also turning into a loss of friends and social contacts, which was especially hard not just for her but her husband as well. Now she can see all the cards and they are able to play together with their friends again.”
If you are interested in learning more about the low vision technology, visit Dr. Shuldiner’s website http://www.lowvisioncare.com or call at 1-888-610-2020 or email him at doctor(at)lowvisioncare(dot)com.
If you have vision loss or are legally blind Dr. Shuldiner may be able to help you: read, drive, enjoy sporting events, play cards, watch TV, go to the theater, and see your grandchildren.
Additional information about living with vision loss can be found on The International Academy of Low Vision Specialists website: http://www.LowVisionEyeDoctors.com.
About Dr. Shuldiner: Richard J. Shuldiner, OD, F.A.A.O., is the Clinical Director of Low Vision Optometry in Southern California and Founder of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS), an organization that provides its members advanced and intensive training in Low Vision care. Dr. Shuldiner received his Doctor of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1970 and in 1975 was certified in Low Vision by the New York State Optometric Association. Dr. Shuldiner became the 41st Low Vision Diplomate from the American Academy of Optometry in 1988 and is now one of 45 nationwide. Dr. Shuldiner has lectured on Low Vision Care to eye professionals in Russia, China, Hong Kong, Africa, and throughout the United States.
