Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Rehabilitation >
  • ... >
  • Outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Occupational Therapy Patient Stories >
  • Lois Rodman
Outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Our Locations
Patient Stories
Balance and Vestibular Rehab Patient Stories
Limb Loss Therapy Patient Stories
Lymphedema Management Patient Stories
Occupational Therapy Patient Stories
Physical Therapy Patient Stories
Speech Therapy Patient Stories
Our Partners
Preparing for Your Visit
Join Our E-mail List
Residency Programs
Contact Us
Outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Our Locations
Patient Stories
Balance and Vestibular Rehab Patient Stories
Limb Loss Therapy Patient Stories
Lymphedema Management Patient Stories
Occupational Therapy Patient Stories
Physical Therapy Patient Stories
Speech Therapy Patient Stories
Our Partners
Preparing for Your Visit
Join Our E-mail List
Residency Programs
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Lois Rodman: Macular Degeneration

Lois Rodman, 66, was helping her granddaughter, Lily, with her math homework when suddenly she couldn’t make out what was written in the textbook. She looked at Lily and realized she wasn’t able to see the details of her face.

“My eyesight had been deteriorating since I was 43 years old,” remembered Lois. “My father had macular degeneration so there was a chance I’d develop it as well. When I could no longer see my granddaughter’s face, that was it. I knew I had to do something before I went blind.”

Lois’ daughter did some research and learned that her mother’s eyesight could be improved by having an intraocular microscopic telescope (IMT) implanted in the eye. This device improves vision in people with atrophic or “dry,” age-related macular degeneration.

Lois had the IMT implanted in her right eye at the UPMC Vision Institute in Oakland and began occupational therapy at the UPMC Low Vision Clinic the next day.

“After the procedure, it’s hard to train your brain to relearn how to make your eye work,” said Lois. “My therapist, Holly, explained each exercise in detail and told me why I had to do it, which made it easier for me to understand the process and accept it. When I became really frustrated, she talked me through some really tough times.”

Since Lois was having difficulty reading from a distance, Holly helped her adapt by creating various colored dots to put on every other number on Lois’ microwave. She also had Lois trace circles on paper and say what colors and letters she saw when she painted. Holly provided her with the tools she needed in order to learn how to see with the IMT.

“If you ever think therapy is one of those things you can just blow off, you’re wrong,” said Lois. “Therapy is a vital part of your recovery and Holly made the journey more fun. UPMC Rehabilitation Institute provided great therapy to help me train my brain so I could see through the new eye,” said Lois.

“The other day Lily asked me, ‘Bubby, can you see me now?’” recalled Lois. “I gave her a big hug and told her, ‘Yes, honey, I’m so happy that I can see your face again.’ That made all those weeks of therapy worthwhile.”

Read more stories from the Occupational Therapy Program patients.

Learn more about the Occupational Therapy Program.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login