Ginny’s Story

Low vision is something Ginny has lived with since birth. Born with amblyopia — a vision development disorder in which the eye does not achieve normal visual acuity — in her right eye, she has worn thick lenses since she was 18 months old. Throughout her childhood, this condition required her to wear an eyepatch. Ginny describes her vision impairment as inconvenient, often needing bright light to see more clearly. Despite her low vision, Ginny had a successful career as an in-house attorney and later as a compliance officer until her retirement a couple of years ago.

Switching Vision Care to Lighthouse Guild

Approximately 20 years ago, a nephew and a niece of Ginny’s were diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss due to the degeneration of the macula. The news was terribly upsetting for the family, especially for Ginny’s brother and sister-in-law. It was during this time that the family discovered Lighthouse Guild and former Chief of Low Vision Services Dr. Bruce Rosenthal. Ginny said, “Dr. Rosenthal not only gave beautiful treatment to my niece and nephew, but he also provided a great comfort to my brother and his wife. As soon as I witnessed the relationship they had developed, I quickly followed them there.” Dr. Rosenthal prescribed Ginny with thinner lenses, making it no longer necessary for her to wear thick and heavy bottle cap lenses that made an indentation on her nose. He fine-tuned her prescription, and her eyesight had plateaued with minimal changes. Ginny remained under his watchful care until his retirement.

A Change in Vision

Recently, Ginny noticed that her surroundings didn’t seem as bright as they once did, leading her to consider replacing the light bulbs in her home. In July 2024, during her first appointment with Low Vision Specialist Dr. Susan Weinstein, Ginny learned that her vision had started to deteriorate. Dr. Weinstein also discovered a significant increase in the pressure in Ginny’s eyes and noted changes in the shape of her eyes. Ginny recalled that Dr. Weinstein took considerable time to conduct a thorough eye examination, and other technicians were brought in to perform additional tests. The eye pressure was so high that dilating her eyes for a complete examination was not possible. Dr. Weinstein recommended that Ginny see a vision specialist, who ultimately determined that dilation was too risky and recommended surgery.

In the weeks leading up to her scheduled surgery, Ginny became increasingly convinced that she would end up completely blind. As a result, she sold her two-story home and bought a small apartment. She also made changes to her estate plan, power of attorney, and healthcare proxy.

It was during this time that Ginny discovered Lighthouse Guild’s EyeCare EyeWear optical boutique. Ginny said, “The shop made it convenient for me to purchase a pair of frames for my new prescription, and Optician Natasha Brown was absolutely wonderful and helped guide me through the entire selection process.”

Glasses are No Longer Necessary

Ginny underwent two surgeries, which included the removal of cataracts and the implantation of lenses. As a result, her increased eye pressure was also reduced. After a week of post-surgery care, during which the patches and stitches were removed, Ginny discovered that not only could she see again, but her vision had improved significantly. At the age of 67, she found that she could see better than she had at just one year old. As she left the doctor’s office with her sister, Ginny recalled saying, “I have never walked down the streets of New York City without eyeglasses.” She described the feeling as being “absolutely incredible.” She still wakes up every morning, reaches for her eyeglasses, and remembers that she doesn’t need them anymore.

A Grateful Note from Ginny 

In a recent letter to Dr. Weinstein Ginny wrote, “I felt your concern for me and my vision the moment I met you. You assisted your technical team in conducting, and then you conducted, an exhaustive examination of my eyes. You spent an inordinate amount of time with me and the skill and kindness shown by you and your team was incredibly comforting to me.” 

To Ginny, there is something very special about Dr. Weinstein who shared, “Not only was Dr. Weinstein able to lead me to the right place for my surgery, but she educated me as to why I was going and what to expect. She and her incredibly skilled team made it very comforting. They are life savers.”

Ginny also felt compelled to share her wonderful news with a core group of women she had worked with for years. These women always read fine print for her, and every time she approached their desk, they always had a magnifying glass standing by. 

About Lighthouse Guild

“Every time I go to Lighthouse Guild, I’m amazed at the kindness of the people who work there. From the minute you arrive, the staff are all kind, caring, and professional. It’s a wonderful organization with a broad collection of services available and filled with incredibly skilled people who know what they’re doing.” In the beginning I was just a fan and now I feel indebted to Lighthouse Guild. 

Volunteering

Since retiring, Ginny has volunteered three days a week for two nonprofits: The Community Health Advocates and the Medicare Rights Center. She values having structure in her life.