Like the rest of our body, our eyes change as we grow older, and become susceptible to some diseases that affect them, like macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy.
Some of these can be prevented, or at least retarded, if diagnosed early enough; the more information we have about them, the better we can deal with them.
At this past Wednesday’s Spectrum Generations lunch, a representative from the Iris Network, Aisha Hixon, vision therapist with the Iris Network, Portland, spoke about the network’s myriad rehabilitation services. (Serena Joyce, communications manager, accompanied her in order to observe, but she did not speak.)
The Iris Network, a statewide, non-profit organization founded in 1905, is dedicated to “building a world where no person is limited by visual impairment or blindness and everyone is an advocate for eye health and the needs of people who are visually impaired or blind.”
To try to reach these goals, Hixon visits the homes of people with vision loss, to assess how they are managing the activities of daily living: their recreation, reading, writing notes, getting meals, and general daily tasks.
The purpose is to promote independence for those with vision loss, and to keep them active in the community. Anyone from the age of 14 to the end of life is eligible for assistance from Iris.
“My clients range in age from their 20s to 100,” Hixon said. “We have a personal adjustment counselor, because as your vision changes, your life changes. At Ease is a technological and employment agency for our clients, and we offer a family support service, where we share information with others offering social advocacy.”
Iris also provides sports activities, camps, networking, and connects with other agencies. It sponsors a low-vision clinic in Portland, as well as the Iris apartments for the visually impaired.
Hixon went on to define some types of vision loss: blind, legally blind (20-200 vision with corrective lenses); central vision loss, macular degeneration; peripheral vision loss; and glaucoma, of which there are two main types.
“I think of glaucoma as a kitchen sink,” Hixon said. “In one type, open angle glaucoma, the eye can’t drain the excess fluid fast enough, so it causes pressure in the eye. This is the most common glaucoma, and it develops slowly. Angle closure glaucoma, between the iris and cornea, develops quickly, causes great pain, and it requires immediate attention. Congenital glaucoma means that you have had it since birth.”
Treatments for glaucoma include eye drops; drains, implanted into the eye; or oral medications, which can help keep the pressure down. Laser treatment can also be useful.
Diabetes can affect the eyes, as well; an ophthalmologist should monitor any diabetic, for diabetic retinopathy.
“Iris is a non-profit agency,” Hixon said, “and the services to the client are entirely free. To be eligible for Iris, your vision loss must affect your daily life in some way.”
After she finished speaking, Hixon led a Jeopardy-type quiz, with a series of questions on the contents of her talk, giving a small prize to the one who received the most points.
If you, a family member, or a friend is experiencing vision loss, information about the Iris network and its services is available at: telephone 1-800-715-0097; 1-207-774-6273; or visit http://www.theiris.org.
