Local Wilmington resident gets to enjoy hobbies again after seeing Low Vision Optometrist

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– “In my head, I said, are my eyes getting better? There is something I have to do.”

That’s the question Ira Weinstein asked himself for years before visiting low vision optometrist, Dr. Pankti Patel, at Paul Vision Institute.

February is low vision awareness month, and Dr. Patel specializes in helping patients with conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, which Weinstein has.

“My right eye is the worst of the two, and it’s weird it has a little squiggly thing,” said Weinstein. “When I blink, I can see it.”

Each time he noticed that line, his vision seemed to get worse. Weinstein could no longer enjoy his favorite hobbies, watching television, reading, or even enjoying being outside in the sunlight.

For years, he received injections every 8 weeks to help treat his condition, something that would help, but not restore it.

He later met Dr. Patel, who gave him a specialized magnifying device that attaches to his glasses, which dramatically improved what he could see.

“With these, I could see people’s faces. I couldn’t do that before,” said Weinstein.

Before seeing Patel, letters had to be large for him to read them, but now, he can see significantly smaller print.

“His vision when he came in was around 2100, when we fit him with the low vision device, he was able to get to 2040, the legal driving limit is around 2050, so it definitely helped him by two folds,” said Dr. Patel.

Now with his eyesight stabilized, Weinstein hopes others won’t wait to seek help.

“If you have a problem seeing, do something about it. I just wish more people would know, because it makes a world of difference,” said Weinstein.