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5 Star Eye Care’s mission is to integrate the concept of 5 phases of eyesight and 5-star customer service through educational programs, resources and tools to navigate vision and vision loss.
Phase 1: Your First Pair of Glasses – First Awareness of Blurry Vision
One's first pair of eyewear, whether at 10 years old or 50 years young, is because of anatomy.
In this phase, glasses are needed for distance vision, near vision, or both distance and near vision, to make what you see clearer.
Phase 2 - Older eyes - Stretching your arms to read close-up
The blessing of another birthday is another birthday! The aging process of the eye introduces the first phase of vision loss denial. Remember, you’re still correctable.
This phase introduces eye conditions associated with the first stages of ageing eyes, medically referred to as Presbyopia.
Phase 3 – Corrective options for seeing clearer
The one pair of glasses option is all you need, is not true for most advanced societies. This is similar to the concept that, in a metropolitan society, one pair of shoes takes care of all your social, occupational, athletic, and hobby needs.
This phase introduces contact lenses & refractive surgery, plus spectacle (frame plus lenses) options for occupational, cosmetic and safety considerations.
Abbreviations associated with this phase are spelled out and clarified, bridging communication gaps between eye doctors and eyecare paraprofessionals.
Phase 4: Medical Diagnosis requiring more than eyewear
Eye diseases result in vision loss, such as Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration.
In this phase, common eye diseases are clarified as to what they are, how it affects us, and common medical and holistic options are introduced.
Special programs are designed to provide deeper clarification of the disease, proactive tips for navigating the disease, and resources for that disease. These are in the ‘Seeing Beyond Vision Loss’ group and one-on-one programs.
Phase 5: Low Vision Specialist is in the house – Help beyond the doctor’s office
In this phase, the eye doctor often refers the patient to a Low Vision Specialist. This is often an Optometrist, Optician, Occupational Therapist, or a specialized state non-profit for the visually disabled or blind.
This is the final phase of denial, whether you want specialized help or not. The doctor just informed you that no vision prescription will help you see clearer.
When I was in 3rd grade, the teacher approached my parents concerned that my poor grades and behavior problems could have been caused by poor vision and needing glasses.
Sure enough, I didn’t flunk 3rd grade because I could finally see the chalk board with my new pink cat eye frame and glass lenses. Moving me to the front of the classroom also helped.
In the 10th grade, the second phase of the journey took me to vanity. My mom kept asking me to take off the glasses for photos and special events.
This became a benchmark moment. Mom did not understand that I needed glasses to see people and to live life, because she always had perfect vision.
So, she got me contact lenses! They were the ‘hard’ kind.
In college, majoring in Environmental Health at California State University Northridge, I fell in love with Optics. This educational journey continued by attending CSUN before or after working as a receptionist for an optometrist during the day and going to Optical technical school at night.
Fast forward several decades later, working for an ophthalmologist managing the optical department, I often saw patients requesting magnifying lenses. Though knowing there was more that could be done, I didn’t have the skill or expertise to offer more, until …
… I began working for the local Assistive Technology Resource Center that offered services for the disabled as their AT manager and specialist.
During that time, I obsessed learning more about devices for multiple disabilities such as visual, audio, mobility, cognitive and learning. We presented talks to educators, senior communities, and events regarding the services and disability devices available at the resource center. I assessed client needs and recommended devices for individual, trained clients one on one and in groups, and monitored the device loan program.
After gathering multiple skills, resources, and connections, a course correction happened resulting from unemployed as COVID redirected many of our lives.
For the next two years, articles, videos and podcasts were created.
Seeing Beyond Vision Loss is the hub of many programs, services, and resources within 5 Star Eye Care.
Popular programs include:
· “Oh No! I’m Losing My Vision” Top 10 Concerns Regarding Not Seeing Clearly
· You Can See Clearer Now the Blur is Gone - Introducing 7 Easy Steps to Proactive & Preventive Eye Care
· You Can See Clearer Now the Blur is Gone- Seeing Beyond Blurred Vision, 5 Phases of Vision Change
· Seeing Beyond Macular Degeneration - Navigating Resources for You and Your Family
· Seeing Beyond Macular Degeneration – Eyecare office version
Book: Your Amazing Itty Bitty™ Vision & Visionary Insight Book will be available on Amazon in February.
Podcast: Vision Riff Podcast
Licenses, Certifications, Education, Organizations
Licensed Dispensing Optician, Hawaii Lic. #449
Fellow, National Academy of Opticianry
American Board of Opticianry, Certified #028219 and Advanced Certification
National Contact Lens Examiners, Certified #028219 and Advanced Certification
Advanced Certification in Technical and Scientific Writing, San Diego State University
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree, San Diego State University
Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii (ATRC), Board of Directors
Guide Dogs of Hawaii, Board of Directors