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• Visiting a Low Vision Specialist
• Posted: 2009-05-21 17:08:31 By
• Hello All!
  
  I was recently diagnosed with RP. The doctor did not do much else with me (I guess b/c there is nothing that can be done). I was in shock when the doctor told me, and she really did not give me much helpful information. If not for the internet, I would be lost.
  I was wondering if going to see a Low Vision Specialist would be reccommened. My vision is not bad yet, but I do have problems bumping into things, and of course dim lit or dark rooms. I still have my driver's license, just don't drive at night. Thanks for any information!!
  

• tips
• Posted: 2009-05-22 09:24:34 By cap b
• Everyone being different it's difficult to say how helpful this is but here goes... if you have not had a visual field test you may want to consider one. this will show you the extent of your vision loss.
  If you are bumping into things you may want to reconsider your driving. Only you can really know when but RP sneaks up on you. I stopped driving when I was informed by a passenger that I made some very unsafe turns and had badly frightened them. I went and had my first visual field test and was at about 15 degrees of usable vision. Legally blind is 20 degrees or less.
  I personally have not found any vision specialists very helpful but if you have access to them they can answer many of your questions.
  There are 2 "Groups" at yahoo that I know of that are RP specific. I found them to be one of the best places to get helpful life tips or a little understanding.
  Hope this helps.
  

• Posted: 2009-05-24 18:32:57 By Darran Z
• A low Vision specialist woudln't help with the deminitshed visual field. I agree that obtaining a Visual Field test (Goldmann's Visual Perimetry is what it's called) would be best to determine what you see. IRP isn't so much of a visual acuqity (central vision) issue as much as it is with nightblindness and loss of visual field.
  
  If you are bumping into things, I would strongly reconsider driving. Many states do have visual field parameters which many people with RP do not fit into. For example, some states require atleast a visual field of 70 degrees, others are more strict at 110 degress required. As stated beforel, legal blindness is at 20 degrees so you do not have to be legally blind to be driving illegally.
  
  I would start with contacting the agency that services the Blind in your State (if you live in the USA). They can direct you to evaluations to help see what help you may need to adjust to this so that you can remain independant and even employable. They will help with obtaining equipment you need to remain at work.
  
  If you want to join a list, I highly recommend the RPList. Many of us with RP (who are on this site) have moved there and has all the latest information on research, etc. There is also a researcher on that list who is available to help clarify things as things move along the way.
  
  Darran

• I can so relate
• Posted: 2009-07-25 15:06:42 By Kimberly V
• 
  I got diagnose with RP about 4 months ago and I was also very shocked, I haven't been to a low vision specialist, I still have a lot of my sight left but my side vision is almost gone and in dark or dim lit rooms I bump into everything..I have a cat and everytime I walk around he has got used to jumping up and running off because I've steped on him so many times..haha,,it's nice to know that there's someone out there whose going through the same thing
  
  -Kim

• rp
• Posted: 2009-10-01 09:35:01 By tennessee t
• hi, I know how skepical most people are about Microacupuncture, but believe me, I know this helps, because I have been recieving them for over a year with good results, its not a cure and it has to be kept up, but at least its something that can help improve vision until an actual cure can be found.

• Posted: 2009-09-28 16:29:57 By Lori S
• Hi, I'm 28 and have RP and seem to have a very similar situation to yours and was wondering if you went to a low vision specialist and what they did for you.
  I live in the hutchinson, ks area and was wondering what was available in my area.
  thanks and good luck to you
  smiles4ulas@yahoo.com