Enjoying Life !
Tony hasn’t let low vision slow him down. Tony was only fifty when he was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease (the juvenile form of Macular Degeneration or MD). After diagnosis Tony was forced into early retirement from his work as a Lathe Operator. But that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying life to the fullest.
Tony spends most of his free time rehearsing and performing as the lead singer in his band The Falcons. A 50’s and 60’s Rock n’ Roll fanatic, Tony boasts a sixteen-hundred song repertoire.
When Tony isn’t rockin’ round the clock on the local club circuit, he’s at home enjoying his labour of love archiving his 10,000 records onto compact disc. Tony is able to read the smallest record and CD track names with his ClearView magnification unit.
ClearView magnification units are designed to magnify and display text at the touch of a button. They allow partially sighted users to regain their independence and take charge of their lives again.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever invested in. I use it for everything. When I want to know which track to play, I use the ClearView. If I want to read my sheet music, I use the ClearView. Even with photos, I can actually see the expressions on people’s faces! My wife has good vision, but if she can’t read something she comes downstairs to use it!”
Using his ClearView, Tony is able to continue his hobbies and keep active. For people who suffer from AMD independence in daily activities such as reading bank statements, bills and medication labels becomes a reality with a ClearView.
Tony has even begun to use his magnification unit for the complex and dangerous task of soldering. This shows just how you can succeed with patience and a ClearView.
“I knew I had a problem, but I never admitted it. I didn’t want it to beat me. You can’t be afraid to use the technology that is available. I’ve used it and made it my own!”
Reading Every Day
Stella is a sprightly 86 year old living independently on the Gold Coast. She recently purchased a “ClearView” electronic magnification unit which she uses daily.
Stella was an active and successful business woman, running her own Millinery business with 12 employees in the Block Arcade for over 38 years.
Upon retiring in her late 60’s, her vision started to deteriorate and she found she was unable to read standard print even with her strongest spectacles. Her correspondence began to accumulate and had to wait till a friend or family member was able to read it to her.
By 2006 her vision loss was significant, and while she still had peripheral vision she couldn’t read her mail, magazines and books or look at family photographs.
This all changed last year when she purchased a ClearView electronic magnifier. Stella uses her new reading machine every day for all manner of things such as reading the television guide and writing down the programs she is interested in for that day, reading instructions on medication and other products such as hand creams, and very importantly, checking the use by date on food items. “I am amazed how much I now depend on the Clearview” she said. “I really don’t know how I could cope without it.”
Pat and Her ClearView
Pat is living with a condition called Macular Degeneration, which many of our readers know all too well. “My family has now decided that it [Macular Degeneration] is hereditary, my grandmother had the same problems, she could get about all right – but could no longer read.”
Pat now has a solution for her reading problems; she purchased a ClearView – and has used it every day since. “I couldn’t cope without the machine, I live on my own – and while the family is great I couldn’t read my private mail. Now all I have to do is go to the bedroom, and shove what I want to read under the ClearView.”.
The ClearView is very handy for viewing paper work, with a sliding tray for placing documents on and different viewing modes to enhance reading. “My only problem now that there is so much paperwork, that it all gets muddled up!” says Pat.
After discovering the ClearView, Pat has become a great supporter of video magnifiers. “A lot of people are now living on their own, and they don’t know about these types of machines. We really need to get the word out! I know that whenever I see anyone in my group who may benefit, I will bring them over to see how wonderful it is.”
The group Pat is referring to is a local seniors support group. Pat has had a long association with such groups, in fact she has been honored with an Order of Australia for her contribution to the support of seniors in her local community.
After her fifth child started school, Pat decided she needed a change in lifestyle, and volunteered to visit some of the elderly patients at her local nursing home who were lonely. After a short time it was apparent that there were few services provided to support these people, so Pat founded the Mordialloc Aged Services Committee Inc., to provide support for frail and isolated elderly persons.
The first group was so successful that the number of attendees swelled to over eighty! Eventually the need for groups in other areas was apparent, and at one stage there were sixteen groups in operation, with over 300 attendees supported by 150 volunteers. Over the years she admits to being very outspoken “But if it’s the only way to get things done, then I’ll do it!” Pat also went back to school to achieve an Associate Diploma of Welfare Studies at Caulfield Institute of Technology.
While the need for support groups for the frail elderly is ever increasing, the number of groups which can operate is restricted by legislation which requires one person with formal qualifications must be present to six attendees. With Pat being one of only a handful of qualified volunteers of the Committee, they were unable to meet the requirements of the legislation and many of the groups were disbanded.
She is still supporting seniors and does regularly attend a local support group – but it is located quite a distance from her home. Pat and other volunteers from the Committee will often visit former members of her groups to keep in touch.
A book has been written based on Pat’s recollections of the history of the Committee which provided over 30 years of support to the elderly community - all on a volunteer basis.
Independence Regained
Mr Fisher lives with his daughter, but likes to be self-reliant. However, in the past 18 months his vision decreased to the point where he was unable to read his correspondence.
To offset this problem, Mr Fisher decided to explore electronic magnification as a way of regaining his independence. His solution was to purchase a ClearView+ magnifier. Mr Fisher is now an advocate for the magnifier and has gone so far as to say that all people with poor eyesight should have one.
“I can keep my privacy to a certain degree.” said Mr Fisher. “I can put my letters, bank statements and anything that is printed on the magnifier and get an understanding of what it is all about. I don't have to divulge my private correspondence to anyone.”
Mr Fisher, a builder and then a supermarket owner in Mossman retired in 1985 due to poor health. However, he remains determined to keep up with family events.
“I have the colour magnifier and am able to enjoy my grandchildren’s wedding and baby photos. I would not have been able to look at them without the magnifier. It helps me a lot.”
"I think all people with poor eye sight should have one. It gives you that little bit of privacy that you normally wouldn't have."
“If I meet up with other people with poor eye sight I show them the viewer, they are impressed with what I can see.”
Electronic Magnifier Give Self reliance
Mr Pataki likes to be self-reliant. Unfortunately over the past three years his vision has decreased to the point where he is unable to read his correspondence.
Mr Pataki said “I can put my letters, bank statements and anything that is printed on the magnifier and get an understanding of what it is all about.”.
Mr Pataki was a very active person managing an aged facility. His vision started failing due to the eye disease, macular degeneration. He retired in 2006 due to his failing vision. However, he is determined to keep up with family events, his correspondence and hobbies.
He enjoys stamp collecting and would not be able to continue with it without his ClearView+ magnifier. “I use the magnifier to read all my correspondence, the newspaper, television guide, books, check my receipts after purchases and also to write letters and cheques.”.
“I would not be able to do all these things without my magnifier” said Mr Pataki.