What Kind of Improvements Can SIGHTLINE Help Make?

Over 200 patients completed SIGHTLINE treatments in 2009. The following chart summarizes the increases in visual acuity by degree of impairment:

Acuity Increase	0-19%	20-30%	31-50%	51-84%	Average
Moderate	16%	31%	41%	12%	+33%
Severe	6%	21%	35%	38%	+40%
Profound	10%	23%	49%	18%	+37%

Of all functional areas, reading is consistently the one that patients tell us is most important. Here are some results:

Reading Speed (Pepper or SK Read Instruments Used)

Moderate: Average Increase = 34%
Severe: Average Increase = 68%
Profound: Average Increase = 66%

Reading Accuracy (Pepper or SK Read Instruments Used)

Moderate: Average Increase = 24%
Severe: Average Increase = 52%
Profound: Average Increase = 70%

Still, the most important results are the ones that make people's lives more fulfilling, more enjoyable. The following vignettes tell how SIGHTLINE helped make a difference in someone's everyday life. These are true stories; but, of course, are disguised to respect privacy.

NOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE AGAIN! Marjorie N has suffered from wet AMD for 20 years. She lives with her daughter. Her visual impairments are now profound. Using EV, she increased her visual sensitivity by 50% and improved both her reading and writing performance. But, that is not the real story. Marjorie loves to cook. She spent a lifetime collecting favorite recipes, which she could no longer read. Her CCTV and telemicroscopes gathered dust on the porch. Now all that has changed. By setting her CCTV up as a reading station, she now derives great joy from planning daily meals and preparing grocery lists, which her daughter uses to shop. She can read & answer mail from family and friends. She can operate her washing machine and do laundry for herself and her daughter. She even sewed a hem on her sewing machine. This is the "real story" of how SIGHTLINE made a difference in Marjorie's life.

MY VISION IS 75% BETTER! Edna L is 91 years old and lives alone in a retirement community. She suffers from profound AMD. Over the past few years, Edna's ability to perform the most basic activities has declined. She had great difficulty dialing the telephone correctly, seeing grab bars in the bath, reading mail and TV channels, reading her financial statement and paying bills. Were it not for a part time aide, who takes Edna to appointments and does light housekeeping, she would live in captive isolation. Edna achieved a 50% increase in visual acuity by learning EV and how to properly use her CCTV and magnifiers. Her writing legibility also increased by 50% and she can now read newsprint size font. More importantly, Edna can now: 1) read the menu in the dining room; 2) use her CCTV to read financial statements and other materials; 3) manage her medications because she can read the labels; 4) write legibly so she can prepare shopping lists and answer mail; 5) use her new reading station to enjoy leisure reading. All things she could not do before. When asked, Edna stated her vision has improved by 75%.

I'M BACK TO DOING SOME OF THE THINGS I USED TO! Ruth H is 92 years old and lives alone, since her husband's death one year ago. An aide comes in twice weekly to help with light housekeeping and shopping. Ruth has profound Dry AMD. Using EV and her CCTV/Magnifiers properly, combined with improvements in lighting and the establishment of a reading station, has enabled Edna to do a number of things she was previously unable to. She can now: 1) read her newspaper in bed; 2) cut meat and vegetables properly and safely; 3) use her toaster oven without burning her hand every time; 4) read her medication labels; 5) read her mail and write notes that are legible; 6) write checks to pay her bills. All things not possible before SIGHTLINE.

I CAN FOLLOW MY STOCKS AGAIN! Beatrice K has severe bilateral AMD. She was experiencing progressive hardship performing the basic activities of her daily life. She did not use her CCTV because it was "blurry". During SIGHTLINE, Beatrice learned to use EV. Adaptations in lighting, ergonomics and technique were made. Her visual acuity increased from 20/200 to 20/40. She was unable to read 10M before and now reads 1.5M. Beatrice can now: 1) use her phone easily; 2) use her CCTV; 3) read her mail and the stock market quotations, a favorite hobby of hers; 4) write and record legibly.

BETTER THAN 50 YEARS OF OTHER ATTEMPTS! Robert Z suffers from glaucoma and profound AMD. He has a full array of low vision devices including two CCTVs. Robert worked very hard to improve/retain his visual abilities. After learning EV, Robert was able to increase his visual acuity from 20/600 to 20/300. His reading speed "doubled", as did his accuracy. Robert stated with great conviction, "I have been treated for my eye diseases for 50 years by ophthalmologists, doctors, optometrists, the LIGHTHOUSE and other low vision experts. SIGHTLINE and my SL Therapist have helped me the most. Way beyond my expectations."

I CAN NOW GO OUT ON MY OWN SAFELY! Anna R is another patient who feels strongly that SIGHTLINE^sm has made a difference. She suffers from profound Wet AMD. After learning to use EV and proper techniques for lighting, positioning and magnification, her acuity increased by 50%. Her reading speed also increased 50%, while accuracy improved 250%. She progressed to the point where she is now confident enough to go to the Mae Volen Community Center without her husband. Anna commented, "SIGHTLINE is uplifting. It awakens thoughts in my mind of when my vision was good. I feel like I did 10 years ago when I could see."

I CAN READ THE NYT BOOK REVIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS! Louis C suffered from glaucoma and very profound Wet AMD. His acuity was so impaired it was not possible to test at the outset. Louis was a former attorney and law professor. His only goal was to read, as he could no longer do so. He purchased a CCTV right as SIGHTLINE began, so the primary goal was to teach Louis how to use EV and his new CCTV to read. The goal was achieved. At completion, Louis was reading the NY Times Book Review with moderate assistance for paper placement. He was thrilled.

I CAN READ MY MAGAZINES AGAIN! Marianne S suffers from profound Dry AMD. At the start of her SIGHTLINE treatment her acuity was 20/400. She could not read her mail, see the time or temperature on her microwave or oven, read her magazines, medication or food labels or her own handwriting. Marianne worked hard to learn EV. She learned where her scotoma was and how to "see around it." Using EV, her acuity is now 20/150. Using her hand held magnifier properly she can now read - her mail, medication & food labels and her beloved magazines. Without magnification, she can now read dials on her appliances, her digital clocks and her thermostats. Life is much easier now for Marianne.

I CAN SEE TREES AGAIN! Nathalie has profound Dry AMD. Because Natalie had an aide to help with other ADLs, her primary goals were to read and be able to see things when she took walks in her community. Nathalie learned the location of her scotoma and PRL. Changes were made to eliminate glare in the home and to equip Natalie with proper filters. Much time was spent learning scanning skills, so Natalie can walk in her home and community safely. Her acuity increased by 68% using EV. Reading speed increased 40% and accuracy 20%. When asked her view of SIGHTLINE, Natalie said, "It gives you a sense of accomplishment to do the things I want to do. When I walk around, I can look around and see different arch treatments on houses and the trees. I watched the fireworks the other night for the first time in I can't remember how long. They were beautiful."

FROM 90 MINUTES to 5! Mildred N was a classic SL patient. Frustrated to tears by her inability to read at a pace that made reading worthwhile. She took 90 minutes to read 5 pages and things were getting worse. She couldn't read emails from her grandchildren, fill out her taxes on turbo tax, see her watch or adjust the temperature on her stove. Now all that has changed. By learning to use EV and proper lighting, she has increased acuity in her BSE by 67%. She can read her watch as well as temperatures on the stove. She can read emails without printing them. She has ordered an OTT light, telemicroscopes and a handheld magnifier to give her greater range and flexibility. Most importantly of all, those 5 pages that used to take an hour and a half to read, she can now read in 5 minutes. That's right, 5 MINUTES. Now that's a difference.

So SIGHTLINE means different things to different people. Every person is different. With different needs, different goals and different hobbies. SIGHTLINE can mean:

Reading the NY Times Book Review or a favorite magazine;
Using a favorite recipe;
Seeing the fireworks or the trees when you walk;
Taking a walk or just going outside;
Reading your medication label correctly;
Reading quickly and accurately enough to make it worthwhile.

SIGHTLINE means being able to do some of the things that keep you safe, allow you to feel independent and make life worth living.