

Feb 08 2022
When Your Eyesight Begins to Fail


Summary
Low vision is a condition that occurs when glasses or surgery no longer help improve your vision.
Low vision can make simple things more difficult, but we can help.
Low vision is a condition that occurs when glasses or surgery no longer help improve your vision. The vision you have with your glasses is all the vision you have to work with.
For people who have always been active but now find things difficult, vision loss often brings feelings of helplessness, depression or isolation.
Common causes of vision loss include age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. Vision can also be impaired by a stroke or cataracts that cannot be removed.
Low vision can make simple things more difficult, like managing your medications or finances, cooking or really anything you do from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. The good news is that help is available.
Low Vision Rehabilitation is a service provided at the North Mississippi Medical Center Retina Center. As an occupational therapist specially trained in low vision, I can help you find ways to compensate for your vision loss and continue doing the things you desire to do. We discuss things like lighting, specially colored lenses that help you see things more brightly or clearly, and computer programs, devices and telephone apps that can help.
If you believe you could benefit from Low Vision Rehabilitation, ask your health care provider or eye care professional for a referral. Together we can help you continue to live as safely and independently as possible.


Cheri Harbour, MS, OTR/L, SCLV
Cheri Harbour, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, is an occupational therapist who provides Low Vision Rehabilitation at the North Mississippi Medical Center Retina Center in Tupelo. Cheri holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy and a graduate certificate in low vision from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. In 2014, she received her specialty certification in low vision rehabilitation from the American Association of Occupational Therapy—making her one of only two occupational therapists in Mississippi with this certification. Cheri sees patients by referral from their eye care or health care provider.
Call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375) to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Referral is required for most appointments with the NMMC Retina Center and for Low Vision Therapy. For more information, call (662) 377-3340 during office hours.

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