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What do you do when your glasses no longer work? That is a question we often hear. And the answer is always the same – come to see us at Northeast Sight Services! It’s remarkable how many people don’t know who or how someone is qualified to receive help and the full range of what we do here. Which is why we’re taking the time during Low Vision Awareness Month to reiterate the scope and importance of our programs and services.
Who is eligible for services? Northeast Sight Services offers an array of services to people with varying degrees of vision loss – from low vision to legal blindness or total blindness. Vision is the only qualifier for services, as an individual must be legally blind or have low vision, which means having a visual acuity of 20/70 or worse (in the better eye with best correction) or a significant field loss. In simpler terms, what someone who has 20/20 vision can see from 70 feet away, a person with low vision can only see from 20 feet away.
How do I know if I’m eligible? It’s as simple as calling Northeast Sight Services at 570-693-3555. We can work directly with your eye doctor to determine eligibility. We also find that people who do not quite qualify visually for services can be helped in other ways, as progressive vision loss can a very frightening scenario. Our brand new Vision Resource Center is a great example of the types of things that are available to someone new to vision loss.
Am I old enough to qualify for services? All ages are eligible for services. The majority of our active clients are older adults, but we offer programs for every age and stage of life. We have a very active InSight Kids Club of NEPA program, which provides activities geared specifically to ages 0-18 and their families. We also have a newly formed Young Adult Program!
How are we different from your eye doctor? Northeast Sight Services is here to compliment the care that is offered through your optometrist or ophthalmologist. We do not offer medical care here – but rather a well-rounded gamut of services to help those with low vision flourish.
What services and programs do we offer? And is there a cost? Our programs are free of charge and aimed at reducing social isolation, teaching independent living skills, as well as supporting and encouraging individuals to remain independent and living in their own homes. Oftentimes this includes referrals to additional community resources that can be of assistance, such as transportation services. In addition to the group and individual trainings that are offered throughout the year, and the in-home support that many have come to rely on, we regularly keep in touch with our clients so that they remain well-informed on all of the most up-to-date information on the field of low vision.
I hope this has helped you learn more about what it means to have low vision and how Northeast Sight Services can help. And as Low Vision Awareness Month comes to a close, please help us spread the word!