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Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Spectrios Institute for Low Vision

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United States
Wheaton, IL
Spectrios Institute for Low Vision

Spectrios: Enhancing Vision, Empowering Independence & Offering Hope to those living with Low Vision

Spectrios Institute is a 501c3 non-profit agency that provides comprehensive eye exams, occupational therapy, counseling and technology training to people with low vision.

01/31/2026

Low Vision isn't the end of the road, it's the start of a new one. From the mother of one of our patients...

"As a baby we got vision assessments from a few ophthalmologists. Many told her what she wouldn’t be able to do, not what she could, like going to the zoo, to a baseball game, riding a bike, or driving. It wasn’t the picture of the life we had for her.

Once we went to Spectrios, they were very thorough. Dr. Williams told us how much she can do, which is limitless! We now have more options for her to live her life. She has been breaking all the pre-conceived notions that were put on her by other doctors. She was given a monocular, which she loves using, and fitted with a new pair of glasses, which has helped her. She likes to show off her new devices to her classmates at school. Spectrios went above and beyond to help her with what she can do, with some help."

01/28/2026

Experiencing vision loss often comes with lots of fears and anxiety about how to continue the activities of daily living. Spectrios Institute is here to help you answer those questions. We work with you to understand what activities are impacted by your vision loss and help you find new ways to navigate.

Sometimes, solutions can be as simple as figuring out how to get vision from your ears and finger tips, simple trainings to replace your reliance on vision. Other times we help find the technology that fits into your lifestyle and improves your experiences.

What we do is a paradigm shift. We help you shift your perspective from what is lost to what is still possible. That bottom line is truly hope for people with vision loss.

01/27/2026

When you have vision loss, it’s not easy. You have to put in the work. Sometimes you have to learn new ways to do old tricks or find the right aids and technology that fit into your lifestyle and adjustments can be hard. But if your expectation isn’t easy and you’re willing to learn some new tricks, the possibilities are endless.

If you or a loved one is living with vision loss and you're ready to find out what’s possible, it’s time to come to Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. Whether you were born without or experiencing vision loss for the first time, we can help you navigate the path forward.

01/23/2026

More from the archives! We're ringing in 2026 by revisiting how far we've come.

For as long as people have been living with low vision, we’ve been finding new ways to see and adapt. Technology has come a long way. Now there are simpler and more user-friendly gadgets and even tools available right on your phone.

You can schedule a time with our Access Technology department to learn what tools are already available on your devices and see what other options are available to you today. (We promise, there have been some upgrades😉)

01/20/2026

Keep your eye on the donut not the hole!

If you experience a low vision condition like macular degeneration, it can be easy to focus on what is lost. Because macular degeneration primarily affects the central vision, it’s hard not to notice the hole in your vision. Most people rely heavily on their central vision and when that becomes affected it is easy to become defeated. But at Spectrios, we don’t believe in lost causes or an end of the line. We teach practical solutions to help maintain what vision is still there, like eccentric viewing.

Eccentric viewing involves the viewer consciously shifting their vision from their central vision to their peripheral vision, allowing them to utilize their stronger functioning vision.

There will always be obstacles with vision loss but, with the right knowledge and support, there is a way through which is why we say, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

01/16/2026

Digging up more photos from the archives! - We’ve been helping K-12 students in Illinois schools for 35 years as part of our Seeing is Believing in-school outreach program. In fact, we’ve helped our 11,000.

Through this program, we have provided low vision aids and education to the student, parents and teachers. That’s 35 years of empowering low vision students and classrooms to keep learning and we’re still chugging along in 2026.

01/13/2026

Do you know any 6 -12 the graders who likes fun, learning and building connections with other kids with low vision? What about learning the latest cool access tech and low-tech tools that help make life easier? Or learning to advocate with teachers and peers? How about participating in cool activities, field trips and outdoor recreation?

If you know a low vision learner who would be all about that, then it’s time to register them for the Grandma Martyl Low Vision Day Camp!

This day camp is for low vision learners entering 6th-12th grade. Our campers enjoy all sorts of fun activities plus opportunities to learn about access technology and no-tech tips to make navigating life with low vision less stressful. This camp also offers a great opportunity for campers to interact and make friends with other kids living with low vision.

Don’t miss out on this experience, spots are limited. Register today! Spectrios.org

01/08/2026

For January, we’re sharing old photos to reflect on where this journey has taken us. We’ve been doing this for a long time and a point we are certain of is that a trusted advocate to share your low vision journey is one of the best tools you can have in your toolbox.

This woman is beaming as her husband finally finds the help he’s been searching for. Having someone cheer you on and share in your wins is such a powerful way to keep momentum while you navigate low vision. We welcome your coach to join in on your journey and if you need a coach, we can be the ones to root you on.

01/07/2026

Honoring how it started-

Dr. Eleanor Faye (1923-2020)

Long before Spectrios Institute for Low Vision opened its doors and recruited Dr. Williams to lead with a “head, heart, eyes” approach, a legendary woman named Eleanor Eaton Faye was doing groundbreaking work in the new field of low vision.

Eleanor Faye received her medical degree from Standford university School of Medicine in 1950. She was the first woman resident at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Following that she worked at the Lighthouse Guild in New York until 91- an affiliation lasting 60 years. During that time, she founded and led the Lighthouse Guild Continuing Education Program in Low Vision Care, lecturing at universities, hospitals and agencies.

Now considered a pioneer in the field, she focused on using the vision the person has, however little it is, as best possible. This was a novel approach at the time and still is a widely underused framework for low vision treatment.

It is under the mentorship of Eleanor Faye that our own Dr. Williams cut his teeth in the low vision field, adopting her approach of using what vision a person has to the best of their ability.

It is that special approach that carries on today at Spectrios and makes us such a unique place. At Spectrios, low vision is not the end of the road but just the beginning.

Dr. Eleanor Faye was committed to helping people with low vision lead full and productive lives and today we honor her legacy by carrying the torch.

Address

219 E Cole Avenue
Wheaton, IL
60187

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16306907115

Website

http://www.spectrios.org/

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