UAB Synopsis, Vol. 25, No. 4, February 13, 2006

Dawn DeCarlo, OD, associate professor of ophthalmology in the School of Medicine, was recently named director of UAB’s Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation.

The center combines the expertise of ophthalmologists, optometrists, occupational therapists, and mental health counselors to provide quality patient care, teaching, and research to advance knowledge in the area of vision rehabilitation.

“Our clinical goal is to help individuals make the most of their remaining vision, preserve their independence, and improve their quality of life,” Dr. DeCarlo says.

Assistive devices ranging from spectacle-mounted magnifying lenses to telescopic eyewear for improving distance vision to sophisticated electro-optical aids, such as computer-assisted devices, are among options at the center. Occupational therapists also are on staff to help patients learn coping skills and to use assistive devices. Counseling is also available for those with depression or problems adjusting to living with low vision.

Patients with low vision experience loss of visual acuity or visual fields that cannot be adequately corrected with conventional eyewear, medical therapy, or surgery. Common causes are glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans aged 60 and older. Head injuries, brain damage, and strokes may also result in low vision.

“Our unique vision rehabilitation center can help patients with low vision lead more satisfying and productive lives,” Dr. DeCarlo says.

A graduate of UAB’s School of Optometry, Dr. DeCarlo joined the UAB optometry faculty in 1994 and previously served as director of the ocular disease and low vision service at UAB School of Optometry. She left in 2001 to serve as chief of low vision rehabilitation and geriatrics at Nova Southeastern University, rejoining the UAB faculty in the Department of Ophthalmology in September 2005.