December 21, 2009
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation and UAB Eye Care partnered with Sight Savers America to help improve the vision of 13 visually impaired Alabama children at a special clinic held this month. The children, all with a visual impairment known as low vision, were seen by UAB low vision specialists in the Department of Ophthalmology and the School of Optometry.
Low vision is defined as visual impairment that is not treatable through standard glasses, contact lens, surgery or medication. Treatment frequently involves the use of closed circuit television magnifiers, bioptic telescopes or other devices that help those with low vision better overcome their impairment.
The children, between the ages of 5 and 18, were identified by Sight Savers America, a Pelham-based non-profit pediatric vision organization. All underwent an examination Dec. 17 from UAB's low vision experts, Dawn DeCarlo, O.D., M.S., associate professor of ophthalmology, and Marsha Snow, O.D., associate professor of optometry. Sight Savers then provided the prescribed equipment free of charge, and conducted training sessions for the children and their parents.
Seven of the 13 children received closed circuit television magnifiers, four were provided with hand-held magnifiers and five received new glasses.
"For children with low vision, these sorts of devices may be the only way they can read, do homework or even see well enough to interact with their environment," said DeCarlo. "These devices can truly be the difference that enables a child to succeed in school and in life."
The children's vision issues stemmed from a variety of causes, including macular degeneration, ocular nerve atrophy or vision loss resulting from cerebral palsy or brain tumor.
"Sight Savers' dedication to procure and distribute these devices to children free of charge fills a tremendous need," said Snow. "They are expensive, and insurance rarely covers them. Before Sight Savers, children without the resources to purchase these devices on their own simply went without."
Jeff Haddox, CEO of Sight Savers America, said that historically, children with low vision have been neglected when it comes to assistive technology. "The partnership between Sight Savers America and the Ophthalmology and Optometry low vision specialists at UAB creates a synergy that enables many children throughout Alabama to have their best possible vision," he said.
"The combined effect of these two entities working together throughout Alabama provides more vision aids to more children who need them than either group could do alone," Haddox said. "We plan to continue this successful teamwork until all legally blind children in the state have the tools they need to see as the best they possibly can."
About the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation
The UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation combines the world-renowned expertise of UAB's Schools of Medicine, Optometry and Health Professions to provide comprehensive rehabilitative care for people with vision impairment.
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