Lions Low Vision Rehabilitation Center of Texas (LLVC)

The Lions Low Vision Rehabilitation Center of Texas (LLVC) is an interdisciplinary center for low vision evaluation, resources and rehabilitation. It is located on the Greehey Academic and Research Campus, Research Administration Building, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 79229.

We are located on the first floor and access is through the outside glass door.

What is low vision?

Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by traditional means, such as eye glasses or surgery, and whose remaining vision interferes with the performance of meaningful activities.

Our Mission:

The mission of the LLVC is to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to low vision rehabilitation.  We work with the referring physician to provide a complete rehabilitation approach to vision impairment. The Center is a community partnership of the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine/Department of Ophthalmology and the Lions Clubs International.

“The ultimate goal of most people is to enjoy a high quality of life through mutually satisfying interpersonal relationships and meaningful contributions in a manner that allows them to value themselves and to be valued by others – family, friends and neighbors, and society as a whole”. (Corn and Koenig, 2000). Utilizing a team approach to low vision rehabilitation allows the person with vision loss to achieve this goal.

Services Provided

Megan Funkhouser, O.D.

  • O.D. Degree: University of the Incarnate Word – Rosenberg School of Optometry, San Antonio, TX
  • Residency: (Low Vision Rehabilitation) University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX
  • Licensure/Certification: Texas State Board of Optometry (Therapeutic Optometrist, Glaucoma Specialist)

Melva Perez-Andrews, OTR, CLVT, MBA

  • Occupational Therapist / Certified Low Vision Therapist
  • OT Degree:  Texas Woman’s University
  • Licensure/Certification:
  • Texas – Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners;
  • National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT);
  • Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Academic Professionals (ACVREP)

 Low Vision Specialist – An Optometrist specializing in the evaluation and rehabilitation of low vision assesses the level of functional vision. The goal is to determine how to use remaining vision effectively to perform necessary or desired tasks with the help of low vision devices.

Areas of evaluation:

  • Visual acuity measurement utilizing special low vision test charts that include larger range of letters or numbers to more accurately determine the level of vision impairment
  • Ocular functions such as color vision, contrast and light sensitivity
  • Assessment of central and peripheral visual fields

Low Vision Occupational Therapist – Occupational therapists specializing in low vision and neuro-vision rehabilitation collaborate with the low vision optometrist to support the occupational performance in meaningful daily activities of persons with low vision.

Areas of evaluation and intervention include:

  • Home Environment: assess and provide interventions regarding optimal ambient and task lighting, enhanced contrast, reduction of glare, simplification and organization
  • Daily Activities: assess and provide interventions for the performance of optimal reading, writing, diabetic self-management, pre-driving visual skills, cooking, home management and safety.
  • Education: provide education on your eye condition and the implications on the occupational performance of meaningful activities
  • Visual Skills Training: provide education and intervention on the use of a more effective approach to using remaining vision
  • Low Vision Device Training: provide instruction and intervention on the use of low vision devices and technology such as traditional and electronic magnifiers, distance viewing devices, and optimizing the use of smart devices
  • Resources: provide social support in the form of education and referral to low vision resources in your community which may include low vison support groups, national Talking Book Program, transportation resources, non-profit organizations such as the San Antonio Lighthouse and state resources such as Texas Workforce Commission.

Dynavision Rehabilitation – The Dynavision is a therapeutic device used to improve awareness of visual field loss and motor skills function compromised by injury or disease such as stroke, tumor effects or traumatic head injury. Goals of Dynavision Rehabilitation include improving scanning strategies, visual attention, eye hand coordination, reaction time and decision making skills.

Other specialized services include:

  • Visual Field Loss evaluation and rehabilitation that includes the use of compensatory and adaptive techniques that involve scanning strategies and/or field expansion lenses such as Sector or Peli prism.
  • Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) evaluation and rehabilitation – “CentraSight is a new treatment program using a tiny telescope that is implanted inside the eye to improve vision and quality of life for patients with the most advanced form of macular degeneration: end-stage AMD”. centrasight.com
  • BrainPort Vision Pro Electro-Tactile Vision Aid evaluation and rehabilitation – “An oral electronic vision aid that provides electro-tactile stimulation to assist profoundly blind persons in tasks of orientation, mobility, and object recognition. It serves as an adjunctive device to other assistive methods such as the white cane or guide dog.” wicab.com
  • Initial low vision evaluations for preschoolers
  • Functional evaluation to address students and vocational/career needs.
  • Optometric evaluation to address driving for vision impaired, post stroke and brain injury.

Links and Resources

The UT Health San Antonio Department of Ophthalmology is an active sponsor of the following:
San Antonio Low Vision Club>>

Low Vision Resource Center and Owl Radio>>

Lions Sight Research Foundation>>

Prevent Blindness Texas>>

San Antonio Lighthouse For The Blind>>

Texas Commission for the Blind>>

UT Health San Antonio Department of Occupational Therapy>>

Patient Information

Patient Appointments: 210-567-8600
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Physical Location:

8403 Floyd Curl Drive,

Greehey Academic and Research Campus,

Health Professions Building, 1st Floor

San Antonio, TX 78229.
Map

Parking is free for patients and is located on the southeast side of the Allied Health Sciences Building.