Winston and Philomena’s Story

When Winston conducted an internet search for low vision services, Lighthouse Guild was at the top of the results. He was searching to find assistance for his 98-year-old mother, Philomena, a retired operating room nurse who lives independently and has been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. 

Whirlwind Appointment

Following a scheduled appointment at Lighthouse Guild that Winston described as “a whirlwind,” low vision specialist Rebekah Lin, OD, FAAO, provided Philomena with a complete examination and diagnosed her as having low vision — meeting the criteria for being legally blind. 

Immediately following the diagnosis, Dr. Lin completed and submitted the documentation required for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and provided Philomena with contact information for follow-up. 

Philomena, who had once been a voracious reader, reading three to four hours each day, had now become visually impaired and was having considerable difficulty reading and writing as the disease progressed. 

Specialized Care

Following Philomena’s appointment at Lighthouse Guild, Winston said, “Dr. Lin was very patient and thorough in my mother’s vision examination, and she fully answered our questions.” He singled out Optician Cynthia Acevedo and said, “Cynthia was helpful in providing my mother with new glasses, a better magnifying light and helpful in explaining their best use application,” and Occupational Therapist Inna Babaeva “was also very patient and thorough — making the extra time to see my mother, even though she did not have a slot for a full normal appointment.”

Improvement in Daily Life

Before coming to the Lighthouse Guild, Philomena was limited to reading a few paragraphs a day, which was a struggle. “The new glasses have allowed her to read several chapters in the Bible each morning and also enable her to use her phone better and to write letters and address envelopes,” said Winston. “The magnifying glass has also been helpful with reading her bank statement and any items with small font.” 

Recommendation 

Winston’s takeaway message about how Lighthouse Guild might help others with vision impairment is: “If you or your loved one is dealing with the complexities of loss of vision or low vision, the people at Lighthouse Guild are specialists in this field, highly professional, and efficient, and they will go out of their way to help you or your loved one see as well as possible.”

When asked if there was anything more he would like to share about his mother’s experience with the services received by Lighthouse Guild, Winston simply responded, “Keep up the great work!”