JORDY (As Seen On TV) Is Now Available At The Florida Eye Clinic

Low vision rehabilitation trains and teaches patients how best to use their remaining vision and provides them with many practical adaptations for activities of daily living. Patients are assisted with various devices that help to increase their quality of vision.

Low Vision can be defined as a decreased visual function at a level where a person with an eye disease experiences difficulty with activities of daily living, despite the best possible vision correction with glasses. It has been estimated that 14 million Americans have severe visual impairment uncorrected with glasses. Of this number, 10 million suffer visual loss caused by macular degeneration. In most cases, macular degeneration is associated with the aging process. Since the fastest growing subset of the American population are those 85 years old and older, we can expect to see an increase in people affected by macular degeneration. Other common causes of Low Vision are complicated cataract, corneal dystrophy, Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic atrophy, stroke, degenerative myopia and retinitis pigmentosa.

In the past, many patients with severe visual impairment were simply told that nothing else could be done for them. That is both untrue and devastating. Low vision rehabilitation is available to those for whom there is no known medical or surgical restorative process. The goal for Low Vision patients is to help use remaining vision with maximum effectiveness in order to achieve as independent a lifestyle as possible. Through adaptation, coping, and adjustment, patients with visual impairment can live with and sometimes overcome their disabilities and handicaps.

Current technology to help patients with impairments consists primarily of optical magnification devices, non-optical devices such as large print books, large telephone dials, and auditory devices such as talking books and scanning devices that will read text back to the patient.

At the Florida Eye Clinic, we have made the commitment to not only serve the Central Florida area with low vision rehabilitation services, but to do so with state-of-the-art low vision devices.

Costs

Unfortunately, most types of insurance do not pay for this specialized type of rehabilitation process or the devices necessary to enhance the patients visual potential. The following services are available and are the responsibility of the patient and/or their family.

Services Available Initial Consultation/Examination includes:

1. Detailed history involving questions about lifestyle, needs and desires of the patient for visual rehabilitation.
2. Determination of which glasses will be necessary to maximize the patient's visual potential.
3. Extended private consultation with a visual rehabilitation specialist to discuss realistic possibilities for visual improvement and non-visual ways to enhance the patient's lifestyle.
4. Trial of prescribed devices to determine type(s) devices which will best suit the patient's needs and wishes.
5. Beginning of training to use any new devices prescribed, or further training in the use of the selected device.
6. Final prescription for the optical low vision devices suited to the patient's needs for visual rehabilitation.

Not included in Low Vision Consultation, Examination, or Training:

1. The actual low vision device of any type (these are priced separately.
2. Medical or surgical visits to the office for eye problems not related to the visual rehabilitation process.
3. Surgery deemed necessary after the initial low vision examination.
4. Refraction or basic glasses prescription; the patient should already be wearing their best correction.
5. Consultation with another doctor as a result of any changes in ocular health noted during the initial low vision examination.
6. Replacement cost for any low vision device lost or damaged outside our office.

In Home Training for CCTV Devices only includes:

A visit to the patient's home helps with further training in the use of closed-circuit TV. Delivery and full set up is available.

Visual Rehabilitation Devices:

1. Insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, etc.) does not cover the cost of any visual rehabilitation device.
2. No single device can meet all the needs of a given patient.
3. Costs vary, but most single devices are under $100.
4. Most patients benefit maximally from more than one device, since each device has specific and sometimes limited applications. However, many patients find that one device can help them achieve many of their goals.
5. Patients with severe visual impairment often will need specific devices other than the standard devices. The more complex the device the greater the cost of that device. Prices can range from $200- $3,000.
6. Not all patients can be helped visually due to either the profound loss of vision experience by the patient or financial constraints.

Myriam Ortiz, R.N. - Low Vision Coordinator

Ms. Ortiz heads the Low Vision Department at the Florida Eye Clinic, and is responsible for low vision rehabilitation training. She teaches patients the best use of their remaining vision and provides them with many practical adaptations for activities of daily living with the use of various devices that increase the quality of vision. At the Florida Eye Clinic, Ms. Ortiz has made the commitment to not only serve the Central Florida area with low vision rehabilitation services, but to do so with state-of-the-art low vision devices.

Visit Us Today At:

160 Boston Avenue
Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701
(407) 834-7776
(800) 456-8515