Staying Connected

The pandemic didn’t bring low vision services to a halt. It did, however, require some creative approaches to caring for patients.

As Richard Shuldiner, O.D., founder of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS), says, “This has had a profound impact on the visually impaired, especially the elderly. If they can’t have a caregiver in the house, even taking medications is an issue.” Dr. Shuldiner, who practices in Corona, CA, adds that “some of the IALVS doctors have done home visits with patients, though it’s difficult to do a low vision evaluation in someone’s home.”

PERMANENT CHANGES

Some services IALVS doctors started during Covid-19 will continue, and the same holds true for Jennifer Valente-Caywood, O.D., who operates Tucson Low Vision in Tucson, AZ. A double-organ transplant recipient, she was already wearing a hazmat suit and going through what everyone else experienced this year.

“Once Covid started, I gave up my optometric practice and turned to low vision only,” she says. “I see one patient for two hours in the morning and one in the afternoon so that I can have everything cleaned in between. They like this, so I’ll maintain that structure going forward.”

She also began utilizing the new Haus Call Telelowvision system by Eschenbach. This at-home service’s specialty kits allow doctors to conduct both a low vision exam and a follow-up device assessment appointment virtually.

“My first patient to try it is in her 80s,” she says. “She whipped through everything, sent the testing equipment back, and then the products were delivered to her door. It’s something I’ll continue.”

POPULAR PROGRAMS

Home and virtual care have also become part of the ViewFinder operation, with low vision locations in Mesa and Sun City, AZ, and a new satellite clinic in Utah. Carlos Grandela, O.D., who purchased the business last November, says, “The biggest changes are offering home exams and device training, as well as exploring telehealth options. We will be continuing all of these into the future due to their popularity.”

In addition to a new online chat page, there are monthly events: an informational webinar (which Dr. Grandela does live) and a virtual low vision support group.

“It’s posted onto both our YouTube channel and Facebook page,” he explains. “Our goal is to build a catalog of videos.”