The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Welcome to the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired clinic. This clinic specializes in care for all patients with low vision. The goal of the clinic is to provide devices that will assist the patients with staying in the workplace and/or maintaining independence. Devices may include strong reading spectacles, hand-held or stand magnifiers, telescopes, CCTV’s or sun tints.

The program is a collaboration between the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science. The School of Optometry provides low vision services while the LightHouse provides rehabilitative services. In addition, the LightHouse staff includes rehabilitation specialists, social workers, orientation and mobility instructors and counselors with whom we co-manage the patients.

The LightHouse clinic has two examination rooms that are well equipped.

Location and Hours of Operation

The LightHouse is located in San Francisco at 1155 Market Street. Parking is very limited so taking BART is usually the preferred method of getting to the clinic (the Civic Center station is directly in front of the building). The clinic operates on Fridays from 9:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Student Clinicians

4th-year clinicians work directly with Dr. Wen and/or the low vision resident. LightHouse personnel will also work closely with the doctors and students to ensure good care is provided to each patient.

All clinicians need to be in professional scrub attire. Student clinicians at the LightHouse are expected to follow the same professional guidelines that are set forth in clinic manual at Berkeley Optometry and the regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Patient Care

At the beginning of each session, examinations are primarily performed by Dr. Wen and/or the low vision resident with the assistance of the 4th year clinician. As the 4th year clinician develops their low vision skills, they will begin performing more of the exam and eventually work up to leading the full exam by the end of the session, with the supervision of a doctor. All paperwork required for each patient is completed on the day of the exam.

If any questions arise pertaining to the overall organization of the LightHouse clinic or your rotation through it, you may contact Dr. Wen at cwen@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).