Low Vision Exam

The Edith Bishel Center for The Blind and Visually Impaired served the Tri-Cities and the surrounding area for years. Unfortunately it has closed up shop. With its closing, it has left a void for those in need of low vision services and equipment.
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Dr. Laura Winkel worked with The Edith Bishel Center for over 15 years. She desired to continue helping the low vision community and is doing so from Grand Ridge Eye Clinic’s Kennewick office.

What is a low vision Assessment?

• A low vision assessment is different from routine eye care examinations. You remain the patient of your current eye care professional for routine eye care.

• A low vision assessment is not about improving the patient’s eyesight. This is about quality of life and helping the patient keep their independence as much and as long as possible.

• The patient and Dr. Winkel will discuss daily tasks and how vision affects those tasks.

• Dr. Winkel does an assessment which helps her to understand the patient’s vision goals and find tools to help them live as independently as possible.

• Investigating what has been tried and what has worked or not worked for the patient will set realistic goals.

• Various vision aids and devices will be recommended based upon specific needs. Training will be provided with any device prescribed.

Assessment Details

• The assessment may take up to 1 hour.

• The patient must have had a refractive & vison health exam within the last year.

• We ask that the patient bring in their medical/vision records or sign a records release. This is helpful to understand why they have vision loss.

• We ask that the patient bring in any tasks that they want help with, if possible. (Hobbies and everyday chores.)

• Training will be done for as long as needed to have a firm grasp of the device. Further training can be scheduled with a technician.

Costs

• The assessment cost is $150.00.

• Technology is amazing in the field of low vision. Basic devices that have been around for decades may begin at $50.00. The most up to the date device that technology provides can be at or more than $4,000.00. We do not mark up the devices much beyond their actual cost to us in an effort to keep prices as reasonable as possible for the patient. Unfortunately, due to their being such a small market for low vision devices, higher end technology is expensive.

• We will also go over free apps that a patient can put on their phone or device that can help with low vision needs.

• As of writing this letter, we have had some success in billing both Medicare and Blue Cross for low vision services.

• There are services that can offer financial help for equipment for low vision patients that can be explored.