Leading the way to a Brighter Tomorrow

Each year the Oregon Lions Statewide Low Vision Clinic provides identified students with a unique, functional low vision assessment directed toward their educational and environmental needs. The goal of the clinic is to help gain a better understanding of the students’ vision and to make recommendations that will assist them in their education setting. When appropriate the optometrist will recommend and dispense low vision devices. The clinic’s services are accessed through the students’ Teacher of the Visually Impaired and/or Orientation and Mobility Specialist through High Desert Education Service District’s Regional Program for the Visually Impaired.

Dr. John Lowery, Director of the Oregon Lions Statewide Low Vision Clinic, has evaluated students for many years. Jeanine Johnson, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, said “Dr. Lowery is truly amazing! He is great with the kids, even those with multiple disabilities, and can tell us a lot about a child’s functional vision. He is an amazing asset to our services, as he also provides inservice training sessions to the teachers of the visually impaired in the field.”

The clinic was originally based at the Oregon School for the Blind, but now Dr. Lowery takes the clinic on the road several times a year to provide service to the individual Regional Programs. This mobile clinic eliminates transportation problems for families and educators and allows the doctor to evaluate children in a familiar environment. The doctor can provide assessments in the classroom or home when necessary.

Dr. Lowery has served as Director of the Oregon Lions Statewide Low Vision Clinic since 1995. He is a faculty member at Pacific University College of Optometry where he teaches courses in clinical procedures and visual function in relation to learning. Dr. Lowery is also Chief of Pediatrics for Pacific University Optometry Clinic and is involved in the research of pediatric procedures, pediatric visual impairments, children with special needs and humanitarian vision care, as well as continuing education regarding pediatric visual impairments and developmental low vision clinic. In addition, he has a Masters of Education degree.