Dr. Hoeft's specialty of Low Vision for over 50 years has helped thousands of partially sighted and legally blind patients continue to maintain their visual independence through his designing of special Low Vision systems.
He is licensed to medically treat diseases of the eye, and removal of foreign bodies from the cornea. He is a past chairman of the American Optometric Association Low Vision section, a past chairman of the American Academy of Optometry Low Vision section and one of only 100 Low Vision Diplomates, world-wide.
In 1959, when he began practicing and also teaching for the Southern California College of Optometry, there was not a Low Vision specialty in the field of Optometry, so he got in on the ground level when he was asked to help design devices for persons with visual impairments.
The mainstay of Dr. Hoeft's practice is now Low Vision, having had patients... who are now in their 40's and 50's...since they were in their teens. However, with the influx of Age-related Macular Degeneration, his practice has become largely one of geriatric Low Vision patients. He also sees many people with Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardts, Best's Disease, along with eye injury cases and chronic eye lid conditions (Dry Eye), with which many seniors are plagued. Los Angeles area Retinal surgeons and Glaucoma specialists refer partially sighted patients to Dr. Hoeft to design special Low Vision Systems to enhance their visual quality of life. He also provides services to visually impaired young adults and children.
The devices he prescribes range from simple hand-held magnifiers to Low Vision microscopes and telescopes, and even the high tech Closed Circuit Television. The choices are based on the patients' visual demands and, of course, which devices the patients are comfortable with. These vary from patient to patient...and each visual need requires a different device.
Although Dr. Wayne's specialty is Low Vision, he also sees young children and families for their general optometric needs.
