New Low Vision Center Is Now Open

By Yvonne Page

climate_forum On Thursday, December 6th, Middlesex Community College (MxCC), in collaboration with the Lions Low Vision Center of Eastern CT, held the Grand Opening of the new Lions Low Vision Center at MxCC. The new center offers a convenient location for area residents with low vision to go and receive quality eye-care and will be open on an appointment only basis immediately.

Caption Reads: Left-Right President of the Middletown Lions Club, Phillip Pessina, Mayor of the City of Middletown, Honorable Sebastian N. Giuliano, Lions Low Vision Technician, Carol Dykas, Professor of Ophthalmic Design and Dispensing at MxCC, Ray Dennis, Dean of Finance & Administration at MxCC, David Sykes, President of the Lions Low Vision Center, Irene Watson, Past President of Lions Low Vision Center, Ralph Nesci at the Grand Opening of the Lions Low Vision Center at Middlesex Community College.

Sebastian N. Giuliano, Mayor of Middletown said, "There are several Low Vision Centers throughout Connecticut and now this new center at MxCC will help serve the needs of Middletown and the surrounding areas. I know our institutions want to do something good for their communities, so when it happens, it doesn't surprise me."

The new center caters to people who have some remaining vision, but is often insufficient to perform the tasks of daily living. The center will offer clients devices such as magnifiers, lamps, large digit calculators and clocks, as well as a many other tools to help maintain or regain their independence.

One of MxCC’s Ophthalmic Design & Dispensing (OD&D) Program faculty members, Carol Dykas, also works as a technician for the Lions Low Vision Center of Eastern CT, and will serve as the main technician at the MxCC Center. OD & D Professor and Coordinator, Raymond Dennis hopes the collaboration will not only provide eye care to the visually impaired in the surrounding areas, but will also serve as a learning experience for students in MxCC’s OD & D program.

Irene Watson, president of the Lions Low Vision Center said at the Grand Opening," I'm really pleased to have this collaboration with MxCC. We will be able to reach a lot more people."

David Sykes, MxCC Dean of Finance and Administration agreed with Watson by saying, "This is a wonderful partnership that serves the mission of MxCC and our communities."

For more information about the Lions Low Vision Center of Eastern CT, visit their website www.lionslowvision.com. To schedule a visit to the Low Vision Center at MxCC, call Carol Dykas at 866-255-8655.