A beautiful sunset. The face of a loved one. A fine piece of art. Our sight makes it possible for us to appreciate all of these and so much more. But very poor vision, or none at all, robs us of those pleasures and the simple scenes so many of us take for granted every day.
In Grosse Pointe Park, one organization has been helping the visually impaired and their families since 1972 – the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. Now part of Henry Ford Health, the DIO assists and educates the visually impaired to keep their independence and live satisfying lives in a sighted world.
In addition, the DIO sponsors international meetings each year that bring together the world’s leading vision-related scientists to discuss advances in the field, including the most current findings on visual neuro-prosthetic devices to be placed in the eye or brain to restore sight to some of those who are blind.
On a day-to-day level, the DIO offers support groups for those with little or no eyesight. Helped by the Friends of Vision, the DIO manages five separate support groups that meet monthly or twice a month at various locations in the metro area to discuss the challenges of living with visual impairment.
Among the support group’s longtime members are Nino and Marie Pacini of Grosse Pointe Woods, who gradually lost their vision over many years. The couple is often seen walking on Mack Avenue with their white canes, running errands.
Marie says the DIO’s support groups have been a big help. “You’re meeting with people in the same situation as you. It can feel kind of lonely but in a room full of other people like you, you can share ideas and laugh about things.”
For Nino, the support groups enable him to help others. “It gives me an avenue to give back to others going through vision loss,” he says. Each June, the couple dons white gloves to judge by touch the design of a group of classic cars at the DIO’s annual EyesOn Design car show. Often, they choose the same winning car as the sighted judges.
Besides the institute’s support groups, the resource center (named for Martha Gorey, a longtime benefactor) houses a wide variety of low-vision aids, from closed-circuit magnifying machines and hand-held magnifiers to large print calendars, talking watches, clocks, and other resources.
The DIO is closely affiliated with the ophthalmic technician training at Henry Ford College in Dearborn and the Henry Ford Health Department of Ophthalmology’s resident training program.
Like all non-profits, the DIO relies on volunteers to help in many areas. In addition to the Friends of Vision, DIO has volunteer EyesOn Design leadership and vehicle selection committees that meet year-round helping staff plan and implement the EyesOn Design events.
To aid its programs, the DIO recently received a generous $2 million bequest from the foundation of the late Art Van Elslander. “The money will fund a permanent position for studies in eye research,” notes Dr. Philip Hessburg, the DIO’s medical director, who started the institute 50 years ago. “Over these past decades, we are tremendously proud of the achievements that have been made for the blind and visually impaired. Our important and essential work continues.”