Health & Fitness
Eye Opener from page B1
"Our purpose is to empower people
to do their daily activities and improve
their overall well being. We first find out
what our patients want to do that they
can't do now, and then develop strate-
gies though occupational therapy that
will help them achieve their goal. We
work with patients in their home or at
their place of work so they learn how to
function with impaired vision."
Macular degeneration affects the cen-
tral vision, but not peripheral vision, It
does not cause total blindness so that
many patients are not referred for reha-
bilitation. Still, the loss of clear central
vision, critical to reading, driving and
recognizing people's faces, dramatically
affects the quality of the patient's life.
Funding Source
In 1997, it was finally recognized that
even with moderate visual loss, there
was functional loss that required reha-
bilitation. Until that year, Medicare
didn't cover the rehabilitation process.
In 2002, the rehabilitation process was
granted national coverage.
"My first task is to evaluate the patient
which I do with the help of terrific diag-
nostic equipment such as the scanning
laser ophthalmoscope," explains Mogk.
"This enables me to map the retina and
determine what part of the macula may
still be working. We then design an indi-
vidualized rehabilitation plan and assign
an occupational therapist [OT] to work
with the patients."
Annie Riddering, 0.T., Certified Low
Vision Specialist and Certified Orientation
and Mobility Specialist, was assigned to
Gertrude.
"I learned that Gertrude wanted to read,
write, dial a phone and watch some TV,"
recalls Riddering. "Reading is important
not only for the pleasure it gives Gertrude,
but she needs to read in everyday life. She
should be able to read a menu, the pre-
scription on her pill bottles, the label on a
can of soup, her mail and pay her bills. I
also worked with her on functional mobil-
ity so that she could get around without
the fear of falling."
to learn to do them a different way"
Riddering also showed Carol how to
place lamps around the house to improve
the lighting and reposition some furniture
for her mother's safety.
"Before she went through vision reha-
bilitation, I watched my mother slip and
back slide',' says Carol. "It's a horrible
Staying Focused
"Having AMD is no reason for giving
things up," says Riddering. "You just need
Nutrition Can Affect
Age-Related Eye Disease
In 2001, the National Eye Institute
(NEI) reported the results of its 10-
year study that demonstrated some
vitamins and minerals can lower the
risk of macular degeneration pro-
gressing for 25 percent of the people
who have moderate or advanced AMD.
Some of these include Beta-caro-
tene, Vitamins C and E, zinc, copper,
lutein and selenium.
This second study, which should end
by 2012, is testing the same levels of
vitamins C and E that were used in the
original study, but it's also comparing
lower vs. higher doses of zinc, lutein
Providing Quality Care to our Patients
Beaumont
WEST BLOOMFIELD
AMBULATORY SURGERY
CENTER, LLC
Our Center offers a safe, convenient
alternative to having your procedure
performed at a hospital
We are a state of the art
Ambulatory Surgery Center
Offering the following services:
OOrthopaedics
• E.N.T.
®Ophthalmology
• Colon & Rectal
®Colonoscopy
• Gastroscopy
* General Surgery
Our physicians
must meet stringent
credentialing and
privileging criteria to
be a member of the
Medical Staff.
e Gynecology
®Cosmetic Surgery
®Podiatry
Beaumont
West Bloomfield
Ambulatory Surgery
Center, LLC
(248) 406-2400
6900 Orchard Lake Road
Lower Level Suite 100
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(Across from the Boardwalk)
Cur Physician Irryestors
WBASC ,s a Lint..te.d Lability Company owned by Beaumont Hosptal - Royal Oak Souln Oakland Anesthesia Associates. Tu., Desal. M.D.
Robert A. Forte. MD. Paul Fortin. MD Joseph G,drder, MD, John Hart, MD. Melissa MoBrien. MD, Peggy Nowak. MD, Gregg Polidori, MD, Stephen
Priest. MD. Rajesh Rao. MD, Michael Salter, OPM, Paul Shapiro. MD. Dane! Sherbert. MD. Louis Sobol, MD. Ju,io So., MD, VesLav Stecedic, MD.
Harry Wasvary, 440
B2
May 14 2009
experience mourning for someone you
love when they're still alive. She felt like
her life was over.
"Today, it is a different story; and my
hope is that our journey will help oth-
ers understand that there are treatment
options for macular degeneration." E
vs. beta-carotene and the omega-3
fats in fish oil vs. a placebo.
The bottom line:
• Eat 5-9 servings of fruits and veg-
etables daily, especially leafy greens;
• Eat fish (especially fatty fish like
salmon) twice a week;
• Lose excess weight;
• Limit carbs that raise blood sugar
quickly (sugars, potatoes, white bread);
• Take a multivitamin;
• Talk to your physician first before you
begin any vitamin regimen.
Source: Nutrition Action Health Letter, May
2009; Duke Medicine Health News, May 2009
Sail For A Cure
The Leukemia Cup Regatta will offer
a chance for sail enthusiasts to enjoy
friendly competition May 15-16 at the
Great Lakes Yacht Club, 23900 Jefferson,
St. Clair Shores, while supporting the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
All funds raised will help individu-
als like Nicole Burton, 4, of Oxford
who has been named Honored Hero
for the regatta at the club, founded by
Jews when they were barred from other
yacht clubs.
The regatta is a series of sailing
events that combines boating with
raising money to fight leukemia, lym-
phoma and other blood cancers. Each
event will offer various prizes and
raffles for all sailors. After all events
are completed, the club who raises the
most money will receive the Debbie
Sobel Leukemia Cup, dedicated to
Debbie Sobel who lost her battle to leu-
kemia in February 2008.
To register for the regatta or for
information about the cocktail recep-
tion and other events, visit www.leu-
kemiacup.org/mi, call (248) 581-3984,
or visit Great Lakes Yacht Club at www.
greatlakesyc.com .