Are you experiencing significant vision loss that cannot be corrected with traditional options such as eyeglasses or contact lenses? This may be a sign of low vision, a condition that can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks like reading, writing, and watching television.

Meet Dr. Amy Carlyle

Dr. Amy Carlyle’s journey into low vision care began unexpectedly but quickly grew into one of the most rewarding parts of her career. Early on, she trained under a retiring mentor who could not bear the thought of leaving patients without care. His dedication and joy in serving those with visual impairment inspired Dr. Carlyle to commit herself fully to learning this specialty and carrying his legacy forward. 

Over the years, Dr. Carlyle developed a deep love for low vision. She values the unique pace and challenges of this field, where patients often discover solutions and tools they never knew existed. For her, guiding patients through this process is like sharing in the excitement of opening a gift. While the journey can present frustrations and limitations, Dr. Carlyle considers it a true privilege to help patients navigate life with low vision and uncover new possibilities for independence and quality of life. 

What causes low vision?

Low vision can be caused by a variety of eye diseases and conditions, including:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of low vision in people over the age of 60. AMD is caused by the deterioration of the macula, which is the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision.
• Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.
• Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision loss.
• Some eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, can be inherited and lead to low vision.
• Physical trauma to the eye, such as from a sports injury or car accident, can result in low vision.
• Some neurological conditions, such as stroke, can affect the visual pathways in the brain and result in low vision.
• Certain medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, can also cause low vision.

Low vision evaluation

The first step in receiving customized low vision care designed to help you live your best life is to meet with a trained professional. A low vision evaluation includes a functional assessment, visual acuity testing, visual field testing, contrast sensitivity testing, color vision testing, and refraction.

After the evaluation, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your options and may even receive some personalized referrals for extra services. We also might suggest low vision aids to help improve your vision.

Low vision functional assessment

A low vision functional assessment evaluates how well a person with low vision can perform everyday activities. During the assessment, we identify the specific challenges affecting your daily life and determine the best ways to improve your independence.

Key steps in the assessment include:

• Understanding your daily routines and habits: We ask questions about activities such as preparing meals, cleaning, reading, using a computer, and moving around your home and community.

• Observing task performance: When appropriate, we may watch you perform certain activities to get a clearer picture of your abilities.

• Identifying functional challenges: We determine areas where low vision impacts your ability to complete daily tasks efficiently.

• Creating a personalized treatment plan: Based on the assessment, our eye doctor will recommend specialized visual aids, adaptive technologies, or alternative techniques to make everyday activities easier.

• Providing additional support: We may refer you to other professionals or services to offer extra resources for overcoming functional limitations.

Visual acuity testing

Visual acuity testing is an important part of a low vision evaluation. It measures how well a person can see specific letters or symbols on an eye chart at a certain distance.

During a low vision evaluation, our eye doctors typically use visual acuity testing to assess your remaining visual abilities and determine the extent of your visual impairment.

Visual field testing

Visual field testing is a type of diagnostic test that assesses a person’s peripheral or side vision. We often use it to detect and monitor the progression of eye diseases such as glaucoma, which can cause gradual peripheral vision loss.

Contrast sensitivity testing

Contrast sensitivity testing evaluates your ability to distinguish between different shades of light and dark.

Color vision testing

Color vision testing tests your ability to perceive and differentiate between different colors.

Refraction

During your low vision evaluation, we will use a process called refraction to determine your eyeglass prescription. We will use a specialized instrument called a phoropter to measure the refractive error of your eyes. The process is painless and involves looking through the phoropter at an eye chart while our doctor changes lenses to find the combination that provides the clearest vision.

By measuring your refractive error, we can determine how much your eyes bend light and how it affects your vision. This will allow us to provide you with a customized prescription that can improve your visual acuity and help you see the world more clearly.

In a low vision evaluation, we use refractions to improve a patient’s vision as much as possible by reducing the impact of their refractive error. We may recommend glasses or low vision aids, such as magnifying lenses or prisms, to help compensate for your refractive error. The goal is to provide you with the best possible visual outcome and improve your overall quality of life.

Education about your options

After your assessment, we will discuss your unique condition with you and share the different options available. Low vision therapy has made a difference in many people’s lives, allowing them to maintain their independence and improve their quality of life.

We will also provide customized referrals to services in your community that may be helpful as a part of your overall low vision treatment plan. These may include support groups, employment training programs, or visual therapists who specialize in your specific eye condition. By working together, we can develop a plan that fits your needs and goals.

Preparing for your appointment

Before your visit, please fill out the patient questionnaire below and bring it with you to your appointment. This will help us get to know you better and identify any specific issues you may be experiencing due to your vision loss.

For example, here are some common vision tasks that our patients find challenging, even with their eyeglasses:

• Reading and writing
• Watching TV
• Recognizing faces
• Driving
• Navigating unfamiliar places
• Reading price tags, menus, and medicine bottles
• Seeing oven dials & settings

Patient Questionnaire 

What to bring with you

Please remember to bring any eyeglasses, sunglasses, or magnifying glasses that you’re currently using. Additionally, it would be helpful if you could bring any items related to the task you’re having the most difficulty with (as listed on the patient questionnaire above).

For example, if reading a specific book is challenging, please bring that book along to your appointment. Or if cross-stitching is posing a problem, please bring the needles, pattern, thread, directions, etc. We’re here to help you find solutions that work best for you!

Schedule a low vision evaluation

At True Focus Eye Care, we provide low vision evaluations at our location in Port Richey. Schedule an exam today if you would like to learn more about how we help patients with low vision live life to the fullest.