How does SIGHTLINE Work?

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SIGHTLINE is a vision restoration process. It exists to help those who suffer from low vision to achieve significantly increased visual acuity and functionality by “learning to see differently”.

SIGHTLINE is uniquely effective for restoring vision and functionality to those who suffer from age related macular degeneration (AMD - both wet and dry), diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and certain types of stroke-related vision disabilities. SIGHTLINE is unique because it is one of the only low vision programs, which combines the two essential components of visual restoration. VISUAL RETRAINING and HOME ADAPTATION. It is this integration that sets SIGHTLINE apart from other low vision programs on the market today.

SIGHTLINE is based on the principle of Eccentric Viewing, which has been proven over thousands on patient treatments since 2001. In order to understand how SIGHTLINE works, it is necessary to understand a bit about Eccentric Viewing or EV, which means “viewing off center”:

1. Despite progressive damage to the macula caused by macular degeneration and other forms of low vision, there remain on the retina other "islands" of healthy tissue;
2. Although a healthy macula is capable of superior visual acuity, these other "islands" are capable of detail vision as well;
3. Once the macula deteriorates to a certain point, the other healthy areas usually have greater sensitivity than the damaged macula. And thus, hold the potential for superior visual acuity;
4. In most cases, there are several islands of healthy tissue on the retina; however, one is typically better than all the rest.
5. This area is called the Preferred Retinal Locus (PRL) and offers the greatest potential for visual acuity.
6. The challenge is to retrain the eye and the brain to "behave" differently and use the PRL, instead of the macula, to see.

This is precisely where SIGHTLINE comes in!

SIGHTLINE is exclusively applied by specially trained and certified Occupational Therapists. These specialists undergo months of classroom and field training, as well as continuing education.

The Process

SIGHTLINE is a 7 to 8 week process. All activities take place in the patient’s home. Thus, there is no need for the patient to worry about arranging travel to another location. Typically patients receive two sessions per week of about one hour each.

Because SIGHTLINE is a Medicare program, the first visit will be by a Registered Nurse to set up the case.

The retraining process actually starts with the first visit by a SIGHTLINE Therapist. We use the term “retraining” because from birth the eye and the brain are trained to use the macula for detail vision. In order to use another part of the eye in place of the damaged macula, both the eye and the brain must be “retrained”.

The first session is devoted to ASSESSMENT. In this session, the following objectives will be met:

• Define Success: a clear set of goals will be set based on the patient’s wishes. These will refer to specific functional capabilities, which are most important to the patient;
• Understand the Process & Patient Responsibilities: a thorough review of the process will be conducted and all questions will be answered. Since SIGHTLINE is a behavioral change process, it requires commitment, discipline and effort on the part of the patient. These responsibilities are discussed fully;
• Establish the Baseline: a battery of metrics will be applied to quantify visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading speed & accuracy and functional efficacy.

In sessions two through thirteen, the patient will participate in a carefully designed program to learn eccentric viewing and habituate it. A wide variety of proprietary tools and techniques will be employed to help the patient learn to see in a different and much more effective way. Some of the skills taught will be: PRL location; fixation; gross & fine scanning, pursuits and tracking, reading & writing ergonomics, proper use of lighting and magnification, functional reading & writing (labels, checks, etc.).

Simultaneously, our SIGHTLINE Therapists will implement home modifications to make the patient’s living environment “low vision friendly”. These modifications will typically address such areas as reading & writing stations, lighting changes, contrast markings, rearrangement of appliances & furniture, computer techniques, closet & wardrobe systems, shopping systems, meal preparation systems and others deemed important by the patient.

At the midpoint and conclusion of the process, the metrics will be applied again. Thus, enabling the patient, physician and therapist to objectively measure progress.

Finally, the Therapist will equip the patient with a customized set of recommendations concerning exercises for future development, use of magnification, potential for customized optical devices and use of community resources.

By the conclusion of this 8 week process, over 90% of SIGHTLINE patients achieve at least a 40% increase in visual acuity. Similarly, they experience significant increases in reading speed and accuracy, as well as overall functionality.