Rodney L. Immerman, O.D.

The "Journal of the American Medical Association"reports that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the eye that is the leading cause of blindness for people aged 65 years and older and affects more than 10 Million Americans.

According to "EyeCare Business", statistical projections suggest: "By 2010, there could be as many as 13 million low vision patients in the United States, and by 2030, that number could rise to as many as 49 million."

People with AMD are considered "low vision" patients. For most of these patients, a "cure" is not medically possible and routine treatments such as standard eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery are not effective. The only hope for these patients is "low vision" rehabilitation provided by a uniquely-trained optometrist who specializes in this area.

It is important to recognize that low vision patients want to do the same things that clear vision patients desire, such as watch TV, read, use the computer, go to the theater, drive a car, etc. The goal in treating these patients is to improve their quality of life by providing them with aids to improve their vision to the fullest extent possible.

"The only hope for these patients is "low vision" rehabilitation provided by a uniquely-trained optometrist who specializes in this area."

A local eye-care practice, Eye Health Vision Center offers an entire array of vision rehabilitative techniques and devices including general-use spectacles for distance vision, contact lenses for high myopia and hyperopia which enhance side vision, lenticular/myodisc or aspheric fullfield specialty lenses, that fit with a pair of standard eyeglasses, blended lenses, conventional multifocal lenses, and bioptic lenses.

Other options include half-eye spectacles, monocular and binocular reading microscopes, telemicroscopes, hand magnifiers and spectacle- mounted or hand-held telescopes, including inverse telescopes. Also avilable are specialty filters including tints, blueblockers, UV and anti-reflective.

Hand Magnifier	Spectacle Microscope System

Telescope System

Low vision services also include training in the use of illumination, large-print reading materials and electronic magnification such as closed circuit TV, large-print software and voice software.

Rodney L. Immerman, O.D. has been providing low vision rehabilitative services at Eye Health Vision Centers in both North Darthmouth (508-994-1400) and Taunton (508-823-5536) since 1997. He graduated from the Illnois College of Optometry in 1982 and has been specializing exclusively in low vision services ever since.

He has been on the consulting staff of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center at Schepens Retina Associates in Boston since 1982. He also works at four other major eye centers in Massachusetts. Anyone wishing further information is welcome to call the office at 508-994-1400 at any time.