Joy and I recently traveled to WA’s state capitol to speak at the Olympia Vision Fair, hosted by the Hope Vision Foundation. Highlights from this trip included eating a chicken pot pie the size of my head (more please!) and meeting the founder of Hope Vision Foundation, Dr. Erin Seefeldt.
Ophthalmologists often play a memorable role in our experiences of vision loss. Yet mystery seems to surround the world of ophthalmology, from the strange spelling that requires spell check EVERY time to the often silent figure behind the clunky eye testing apparatus. Meeting such a warm, personable ophthalmologist (thanks again spell check), prompted me to create a quick “Ophthalmologist Q&A with Dr. Erin Seefeldt”.
Q: What inspired you to create the Hope Vision Foundation?
A: As an ophthalmologist I see many patients with conditions causing vision loss. From my training, I knew that vision rehabilitation existed and had trained at the American Lake Blind Rehabilitation center. The resources and professionals there are amazing. Then I realized that for non-veterans the options were not as robust and there were barriers to getting rehabilitation. These were personal and system issues. It is not easy to refer patients or learn about the services in each area. We also don’t have the time built into our schedule to really talk and listen to patients about how they are adapting to vision loss. I founded hope vision foundation to create a resource for our community that allows all patients with vision loss to connect to resources.
Q: When you were in medical school, what type of training did students receive on how to communicate with patients about a diagnosis of vision loss?
A: In medical school and internship we receive training on ‘breaking bad news’ but no disease specific training. We were given techniques to use and practiced with simulated patients (actors). This was fairly new when I trained and in practice every patient is different. The better you know your patient the better you can communicate a difficult diagnosis with empathy.
Q: What do you wish more eye doctors / eye care specialists could learn about working with patients who are experiencing vision loss?
A: I wish more eye doctors could learn from patient’s with vision loss how it impacts a patient’s activities and relationships. I also think it would be helpful to train doctors about low vision devices (high and low tech) and techniques. All doctors should be given basic training on interacting with people with hearing and vision disabilities.
Q: What is one critical piece of advice you’d like to share with people who are currently adjusting to vision loss?
A: Understand your reason for vision loss and what to expect over time. Knowledge is power and often not knowing can lead to worrying more and imagining the worst.
Readers: What other questions do you have for Dr. Seefeldt?
We can include your questions in a future Ophthalmologist Q&A
I’d love to see ophthalmologists (autocorrect knows this word!) trained in the social model of disability as well as the medical model of disability so they can let patients know that a diagnosis is not a death sentence and that lots of blind people live a great rich, wonderful life. So many people get super depressed about their diagnosis and it’s partly because their doctor tells them it’s a tragedy and it’s traumatic and they need sympathy and reassurance. Along with all of our society, doctors need training that disability is a condition not a devastating end to life.