As those of you who have been with me for a while are aware, I have some major health issues which have worsened this past year to the point that I thought I would have to stop writing completely. I finally got a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis and medication, which helped with a lot but did not address the double vision that came with the disease. It’s hard to write books when you see two of everything.
Vision therapy was recommended by my Neurologist, but there were no therapists in Arkansas, and the docs in Dallas couldn’t get me in for six months. Six months of seeing double and having no depth perception. It meant no writing; no driving; no life as I knew it. Not acceptable. I started looking for an alternative and I found it. This isn’t your usual Vision Therapy. It’s way better than that. I started phase I and within a week my double vision was much improved. After three months of therapy, it only happens during a flair of the Myasthenia or a bad night’s sleep. Phase II began a couple of weeks ago and should help improve my peripheral vision of which I had lost quite a bit. The blurriness that varied day to day is much better, so I have high hopes for my next “glasses” check.
I’m telling you this because as those of you that have unusal vision problems, know someone with issues, or has a child that can’t see already know – it’s hard to find help. You’re given Prism glasses and then new stronger prism glasses, or eye patches, and nothing gets fixed. Stroke patients are told to wait and see how much vision returns, while they get physical therapy right away in order to walk. What? I don’t think so. Better to fix the problem than take the wait and see approach.
So here’s the deal:
1. You don’t have to live anywhere near the clinic. They work world wide. Telemedicine is a great thing!
2. Is it expensive? You bet it is – and it’s worth every penny. Most of the expense is because you’re buying the equipment so you can do the therapy in your home and don’t have to travel. The rest is because you have a therapist with a weekly 45 minute session (in Phase II) and it’s for months – not weeks. There’s also homework involved. Five days a week doing your exercises. Committment. If you don’t have it, stop here.
3. Does insurance cover it? Not likely. At least mine doesn’t. They consider being able to see a perk, not a need. If you find a company that does, let me know…
4. How do I know it will work for me? You don’t, but you can schedule a consultion with Dr. Julie Steinhauer and see if it might help. A consult costs $149 and lasts for sixty minutes. Just click the link above to get there.
NOTE: I do not get a dime from this company. I got my sight back. And my life.
If you want to know more about the therapy, check out the link above or do a search for Dr. Julie Steinhauer on YouTube. Julie gives out the contact information at the start of each video. You can also send me an email at cat@catgilbert.net with any questions.
Click To Go To Vision For Lifeworks
If you are a veteran, or know of a blind veteran, PLEASE contact the Blinded Veterans Association and register. Meta has donated glasses that are given FREE to blind (legally) veterans and they are FANTASIC! We got some for my Dad, who lost his vision and they have opened a whole new world to him. The glasses READ his mail to him, tell him the colors of his clothes so he looks dapper at church on Sundays and much more. Click the button below to register.
Blind Veterans Association