Collin County Living Well Magazine November/December 2016 | Page 26

Steps to Overcome the Trials
of Vision Loss and Keeping Hope
Courtesy Key-Whitman Eye Center
is key for diagnosing and managing diseases that can be visually detrimental.”

S

tudies link the loss of vision with depression. This may
seem inescapable, due to the loss of vision being tied
to a less quality of life score, but there’s a brighter
side and other things to consider. Key-Whitman Eye
Center’s Plano eye doctor Sadaf Razi, O.D., says it’s
vital to shift your attitude and focus from pessimistic thinking
to positive and suggests the below ardent steps people with
vision loss can take to overcome challenges.
According to Dr. Razi, “It’s natural to feel sad or get frustrated
when vision loss is affecting activities of daily living. However,
there are plenty of options available to slow the progression of
eye disease and cope with vision loss, too.”

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2. Maximize the vision you
have left.
Just because your vision loss is already
noticeable, that doesn’t mean you can’t
maintain much of the vision you have
remaining.
According to Dr. Razi, “Early intervention and prevention are key. For example, there are excellent, evidence-based
nutritional supplements available to treat
eye diseases like macular degeneration.
And working closely with your eye doctor to manage your glaucoma with the
appropriate combination of prescription
eye drops, and being vigilant about
complying with your treatment plan, can
significantly slow the progression of the

disease.”
If cataracts are the problem, cataract surgery with high technology lens implants can typically restore or even improve
your range of vision.
3. Inform your primary care physician if you are
experiencing depression.
If you feel any sadness or depression symptoms due to vision
loss, discuss this with your primary care physician. Loss of vision is one of the top ranked concerns expressed by Dr. Razi’s
patients. This is especially true within the geriatric population
who fear losing their independence.

Dr. Razi encourages patients with risk factors for vision loss
(especially a family history of eye diseases such as glaucoma,
macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease), and those
who have already having vision loss, to try the below steps:

“We are very empathetic with our patients. If a patient is feeling down, we suggest he or she asks their primary care physician (in conjunction with the patient’s insurance provider) to
refer them to a mental health professional in their network,”
Dr. Razi says.

1. Stop vision loss from occurring
in the first place.
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times; an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The same holds
true when it comes to diagnosing and treating eye diseases
that can cause permanent vision loss.

4. Make use of resources available through
your city or senior center.
There are a lot of great resources at your disposal, depending
on where you live and the severity of your vision loss. Primary
care physicians are generally informed on current services
provided in their communities.

“Many diseases, like glaucoma and macular degeneration are
silent diseases, which can have a very strong effect (permanent vision loss) when they advance. Because symptoms don’t
show up until these diseases progress, many people aren’t
aware they have these underlying conditions. Preventive care

As Dr. Razi explains, “Most municipalities provide services to
patients with low vision, such as rides to doctor’s appointments
or help with grocery shopping or household chores. Many senior centers also offer services to assist geriatric patients with
basic functions, especially as their eye diseases progress.”

COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016