The Ponoka Whitecaners - a group dedicated to supporting partially-sighted folks across the region - recently welcomed guest speaker Alexandra Lucyk of the Edmonton-based Vision Loss Rehabiliation Canada (VLRC) organization.
The presentation was held Feb. 5 in the St. Mary's Anglican Church Hall, where the Whitecaners regularly meet the first Wednesday of the month at 1:15 p.m. (except for July and August).
Lucyk, an orientation and mobility specialist with VLRC, shared information about several types of visual aids, from canes to protective glasses.
"I help with navigation both indoors and outdoors - anything to help with your basic routines, and to help you maintain, and even gain, more independence," she said.
That includes a range of canes which have different tips that can make a tremendous difference with various conditions, such as in the winter with the often icy surfaces.
Also, specially-designed sunglasses can also really help with glare sensitivity.
"I also brought monoculars which can help with 'spot' reading. For example, if you are going out for a walk, and you do have some central vision, and maybe you aren't sure about lights an an intersection - you can use the monocular to help you with that.
"You can use them with your better eye, to help with any sort of distance viewing, too."
Lucyk discussed various conditions affecting vision, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.
"Glaucoma affects your peripheral vision, which is vision on the 'outside'. If I'm looking straight ahead, anything beside, above or below me, I'll have a harder time seeing.
"If you have macular degeneration, it's the opposite. It's the middle of your vision that is more affected - the things on the 'outside' you will be able to see a bit better.
"So when we talk about using your functional vision, you want to use any of the vision you have whether it's your central or peripheral vision. With macular degeneration, you can also use something called 'eccentric' viewing.
"This is where you look at what you want to see, and slightly shift your gaze to the right or left of it. That is going to help you have a little more clarity with what you are trying to see. It's a bit tricky, and does take practice, but once you get the hang of it, it does help you with macular degeneration."
Throughout the meeting, Lucyk passed around various canes, tips, glasses and the monoculars for folks to check out.
"It's nice to know what is out there, and what types of independence we can gain from these tools."
Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada is a not-for-profit healthcare organization and the leading provider of rehabilitation therapy and healthcare services for individuals with vision loss, notes the organization's web site.
Meanwhile, the Ponoka Whitecaners has been running for three decades now.
Boman started with the group right from the beginning when it was set up under the umbrella of CNIB. Florence Stretch led the group that first year, and then Boman took on the leadership role and has held the post ever since.
"It was really interesting to see the different varieties of canes today, and also the tips on the canes, and how they work on dry surfaces or even with snow," she said of the presentation. "I find that glare really bothers my eyes, so I like the idea of the amber tints as well.
"It's can also be a big step to use a white cane for the first time," she said. "And as Alex said, you use what is best for yourself."
Boman said the group strives to provide both information and personal support as members navigate the challenges of vision loss - to whatever degree.
"When you come to this kind of a group, I think the big thing is you know you aren't alone. Other people are experiencing the same sorts of challenges that you might be. And not just the challenges, but they are also experiencing ways of overcoming, and of dealing with the challenges for those with vision loss.
"It definitely changes your life. There is a grief that happens, and really. if you are changing from being fully sighted to being partially sighted, it's like losing a part of yourself."
Looking ahead, Boman said the Whitecaners are hoping to have the CNIB Mobile Hub come to Ponoka in May. According to the CNIB web site, the CNIB Mobile Hub is a program delivery model where staff visit communities to deliver in-person programming at no cost.
For more information about the Ponoka Whitecaners Support Group, call Sue Boman at 403-783-3194.
