Lighthouse Guild Tech Center Inspires Visually Impaired People to Attain Their Goals

Posted by Vision Monday

The nonprofit Lighthouse Guild provides exceptional services for people who are visually impaired, including coordinated care for eye health, vision rehabilitation, technology and the only behavioral health center in the U.S. focused on people who are blind, visually impaired, or at risk for vision loss.

In 2021, they opened the state-of-the-art Lighthouse Guild Technology Center—the largest premier assistive technology and training resource in the U.S. It features a Smart Home where people can try the latest innovations for controlling their home environment—change the thermostat, turn lights on and off, answer the phone, and lock doors via voice command.

The center also serves as a hub connecting innovators and users to advance technological developments. People who are visually impaired, as well as anyone who needs help, can come for assessments and opportunities to try out cutting edge and basic technology, as well as training.

“With the right wearable device and training, activities once enjoyed but thought no longer possible, are possible again,” said Bryan Wolynski, OD and CTO. “One gentleman with macular degeneration used to enjoy going to the theater, but it was no longer enjoyable due to his vision loss. A wearable device that improved his ability to see the actors’ faces on stage, gave him back some enjoyment of the theatre, which led to him being more active and going to museums and other venues.”

Even with uplifting stories like these, Dr. Wolynski believes that intervention choices of technology should come through a professional and be based on evidence-based data and studies. At Lighthouse Guild, a team of experts is doing just that—evaluating wearable technology, collecting data on which device is most useful for a specific task, and guiding people with low vision toward the technology choice that is right for them.

More Options, More Opportunities
Whatever the technology—and however devices are used—wearable tech continues to transform vision care for both patients and doctors alike. It’s helping physicians expand their skills and their practices, and is enabling low vision patients to go back to employment, rediscover hobbies, enjoy visual entertainment and gain a new sense of independence. Those results are priceless.