Heather Napolitano started losing her vision seven years ago due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes caused by changes in the blood vessels of the eye. She is a patient of the Scheie Eye Institute, and her physician, Tomas S. Aleman, MD, recommended she visit the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center housed at The Eye Institute (TEI) of Salus University – specifically Dr. Erin Kenny, Salus Pennsylvania College of Optometry alum and chief of the Center.
Although apprehensive at first, Napolitano felt an immediate connection with Dr. Kenny. “She asked me to describe on a daily basis what I can’t see and how it affects me. She asked for examples of what I wanted to be able to see better. She just wants to help people,” Napolitano said. Following her initial appointment, Napolitano was given specialty readers, sunglasses and a handheld telescope so she could fulfill one of her goals – to watch her daughter dance on stage at her upcoming recital.
Blown away by how helpful the Feinbloom Center was, Napolitano decided to help spread the work about the low vision services at TEI. Napolitano and her husband Dominic, who live in Rehoboth Beach, Del., co-founded in 2015 a fundraiser entitled SeeShore Fest, which is held at the Starboard Restaurant in Dewey Beach. The event has previously raised money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and this year, Napolitano included TEI as a beneficiary of the fundraiser.
This year’s fundraiser was held during the last weekend of August and raised money through raffles and t-shirt sales, as well as games with prizes for children.
“The connection I felt with The Eye Institute, I wanted to give back,” said Napolitano. “If someone else is dealing with what I am dealing with, I want them to know about the Low Vision Services at TEI. What they do is incredible.”