Dr David Armstrong

01/02/2025

The following is a very good explanation of how various professionals help people with low vision. This was in response to a person's questions which were posted on a low vision page.
The Ophthalmologist is the medical person who diagnoses the pathology and manages the medical treatment , the Optometrist with an interest in low vision helps you to maximize your remaining vision using glasses and low vision assistive devices such as glasses, magnifiers, electronic readers and useful apps on your phone
The OT looks at your life holistically and how to live your life independently using all the information gleaned from the first two professionals together with his / her assessment to live your best life .
The O& M teaches you how to move around independently ,starting in your home and advancing to getting around independently by orientation and mobility techniques
The ideal is to have a team approach with the goal of the VIP (visually impaired person) gaining knowledge around their pathology and retaining or regaining independence . There is life after visual impairment . Wishing you a very successful training

12/31/2024

My last patient of 2024, who I discussed in the post below, came to me from out of Virginia. He traveled a few hundred miles to see me in Roanoke, VA. Like about half of my patients he learned of me by Googling Low Vision Doctors or Low Vision Help. (Most of the others are referred by their optometrist or ophthalmologist) One or more of my YouTube videos popped up and he watched it. I have over 100 videos on YouTube, all describing how people with impaired vision can be helped by a low vision doctor like me. The videos discuss macular degeneration, Stargardt Disease, ocular albinism, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions that reduce vision. If you or a friend have low vision and would like more information click the link below for a short playlist of my YouTube videos. I hope you find them interesting and helpful. Have a happy and blessed 2025.

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12/31/2024

Here's a video about my last patient of 2024. He came from Atlanta to see me in Roanoke, Virginia for help with his impaired vision. Watch the video for an explanation of his problem and how I helped him.

11/11/2024

A few days ago I had the pleasure of helping a man who has been using bioptic telescopic glasses since 1973. Interestingly, he received his original pair from Dr. William Feinbloom, the inventor of telescopic glasses. My patient was born with impaired vision. As a teen-ager he read about how Dr. Feinbloom was helping people with impaired vision see better with telescopic glasses. He and his mother went to New York City for an evaluation by Dr. Feinbloom. Bioptics were prescribed and the man was able to drive with them. He's had a couple updates since the original pair and I have ordered another updated pair. He meets DMV vision requirements. In his words "The bioptic telescopic glasses have given me 50 years of independence that I would not have had without them".
A real success story.

10/10/2024

This nice man, Jesse’ has macular degeneration. He has been to two different low vision doctors. Jesse and his wife flew to Roanoke from Savannah, GA to see if I could improve on the bioptic telescopic glasses that they prescribed. I did find a change in Jesse’s vision and I’m making a change in his bioptics to help him see better. I’m happy that I was able to help.

08/22/2024

A patient with impaired vision caused by macular degeneration showed me this interesting device. It helps her when she's pouring herself a cup of coffee. The wires hang into the cup and when the level of coffee reaches them the device makes a sound. She stops pouring and her coffee is ready without spilling a drop.
The black mug was the only one that I had for the picture. Of course, pouring your coffee into a white mug also makes it easier to know when it's about full.
By the way, I checked on Amazon the the "Easy Say Stop" costs about $10. A helpful device and really cheap.

08/20/2024

A few days ago, a man with macular degeneration came to receive the low vision glasses that I had prescribed for him a few weeks before. When he came for his low vision evaluation he told me that he’d recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration. The doctor who diagnosed him did the testing, did the examination, stepped back from the patient and said “you have macular degeneration you’re going to go blind” and then he left the room.
What a terrible thing to say. Can you imagine how the patient felt hearing that he was going to go blind from some condition he probably had very little knowledge of? How frightening.
When I think of going blind I think of seeing nothing, the lights going out. That’s not what happens with macular degeneration.
I explained to the patient that macular degeneration affects one very small spot in the center of the vision, the macula. That’s the spot that normally has the best vision. Macular degeneration is certainly a problem, but the remainder of the vision not effected. The peripheral vision remains undamaged. People can see things to the side. They don’t bump into things. They don’t trip over things. Sometimes they learn to aim their eyes a little bit to the side or above or below and they can see better.
Magnification and good lighting help them. That’s why we prescribe LowVision glasses.
“You are going blind.” What a terrible thing for someone to hear from their doctor. And with no explanation. I hope that the doctor learns to present bad news with more compassion.

08/14/2024

Here's a comment that I received from a patient who has been driving with the bioptic telescopic glasses that I prescribed for him 2 years ago. It is important to him that he remain independent and the bioptic glasses help with that. He has macular degeneration and would not be allowed to drive without the bioptics. He returned for his annual DMV vision screening, passed easily and will be able to continue driving for another year.
"Dr Armstrong, Thank you for a good appointment on Monday. It's hard to express how happy I was to pass the DMV eye test. Please mail me a copy of the form you faxed to DMV.
Thank you. Best wishes and I hope to see you next year.
RB"

08/13/2024

One of the joys of helping people with low vision is that I get to know and spend some time with some very nice people. Yesterday while I was helping a patient my cell phone rang. I recognized the name that popped up but couldn't quite remember the person. I don't take calls while I am helping a patient so the lady had to leave a message.
Last evening when I finally listened to the message I learned that she was calling to tell me that she'd had to put her dog down and wanted me to know. How nice.
It was 6 1/2 years ago when the lady came to me for help. I had not seen her since. But I remember the dog. She asked me if it would be ok for her to bring her service dog to my office. I was expecting a guide dog. Maybe a German Shepherd. She arrived carrying a very small, fluffy, white dog. It was an emotional support dog. Very friendly little dog.
Today I called the lady to express my sympathy and she told me that the dog was 16 years old and she'd had it for over 10 years. We had a nice chat about the little dog and her plans to get another dog. I asked her to send me pictures of the new dog when she gets it.
I really enjoy having this kind of close relationship with my patients. Makes my work very satisfying and enjoyable.

08/01/2024

This morning I got this message from a patient with Stargardt Disease. He has not driven for several years because he was unable to pass the DMV eye test. Now he's licensed to drive while wearing the bioptic telescopic glasses that I prescribed for him. Here is his message.
Dr A,
Great news! I hold a valid VA drivers license with the telescopic lenses restriction!! Woohoo!! I am so excited it actually brought me to tears when it was all over. Thanks to you. It means a lot to me.
As my vision has decreased I thought there would come a time soon when I couldn’t drive any more. Any maybe that day will come, but not anytime soon!!’ It’s a big sense of freedom and autonomy.
I kept calling like you said and eventually got the head lady on the phone. Mary something. Was able to schedule an appointment for yesterday and she told me everything I would need.
I did a spot test riding as a passenger where I essentially gave a play by play of everything I saw going on. Cars passing. Pedestrians. Stop light colors. Etc.
Passed that. Then got behind the wheel and took a good long drive even on 64.
Passed that!! They were quite strict! There were 2 testers in the car both times.

Many thanks

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07/31/2024

19 hours ago

Many thanks to my colleague, Dr. Kolleen Rose, for posting this interesting article. It tells of viewfinders (telescopes) which help people with red-green color blindness appreciate the beautiful colors of nature in our Virginia State Parks.

Kolleen Rose
(She/Her) • 1st
Optometrist
22 hours ago

Virginia State Parks First in U.S. to install EnChroma-Adapted Viewfinders for Colorblind

07/29/2024

Stargardt disease is an uncommon eye condition that damages the central vision much like macular degeneration. That makes reading and other activities that require sharp vision very difficult. Vision loss from Stargardt usually begins in childhood but in some people it first begins when they are adults. The condition is progressive, gradually causing increased vision loss. It does not result in total blindness.
In this short video you can see and hear how low vision glasses, prismatics, help this young lady's reading. For more information give me a call. 866 321-2030

Addyson is a good reader but as Stargardt has developed her reading became difficult. In the video you can hear the improvement in her reading with her new ...