Spectrios Institute Has Helped Over 40K Low Vision Patients As It Marks 40 Years

WHEATON, IL — Spectrios Institute is celebrating 40 years providing rehabilitative care to low vision patients in Wheaton. In that time, the not-for-profit institute has treated more than 40,000 patients, for whom services are not always easily accessible.

Spectrios opened as Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation in 1986. The center opened because "there was no specialized care for low vision patients at that time, and it was much needed," Sandy Wolfrum, Director of Development at Spectrios, told Patch.

"The low vision patients, whose vision cannot be fully corrected with conventional glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery, didn’t have a place to be treated in this area that had a multidisciplinary team approach—including low vision rehabilitation optometrists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors and assistive technology specialists providing coordinated, patient-centered care designed to address both medical and functional needs," Wolfrum said.

Deicke was founded by Dr. P.K. Gieser and Edwin Deicke, both of whom "experienced the challenges of vision loss and were disheartened by the limited resources available to assist themselves and others," according to the Spectrios website.

Wolfrum said Spectrios treats adults and children with low vision due to conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and eye injuries.

Their dedicated team includes optometrists, assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation counselors who coordinate treatment, rehabilitation and technology training to help patients in their daily lives.

The technology team at Spectrios includes two employees who live with low vision themselves, Wolfrum told Patch.

For patients ages 12 to 17, Spectrios offers a summer day camp that combines fun activities with important life skills. During the day camps, children hike, play baseball and take field trips to places that have included Morton Arboretum and Rate Field, where the Chicago White Sox play.

Camp counselors also help students develop the skills to navigate their daily lives using low-tech tools or without technology, and to advocate for themselves, per the Spectrios website.

Wolfrum shared a story about Dwight, a low vision patient whose father had received care at Spectrios.

"From the start, the Spectrios team provided education, encouragement, and practical tools to support his daily life and independence," Wolfrum said. "Most recently, Chris from our Access Technology Department—who lives with vision challenges herself—spent time helping Dwight explore magnifiers, computer accessibility features, and apps that could make tasks easier."

She told Patch the tools Dwight learned to use resulted in "something extraordinary" happening.

During his followup visit, Dwight gave Chris a picture he painted using those very tools. The painting depicts a candle burning brightly.

Wolfrum told Patch Dwight said the picture stood for the "light of hope" that Spectrios is for him and other low vision patients.

She said, "This candle now serves as a powerful reminder: hope continues to burn for individuals facing vision loss. With support, education, and adaptive tools, their light does not fade. It shines."