While our ability to detect,
diagnose and treat eye disease and eye health problems that can result in
vision loss has continued to improve tremendously, we still encounter
patients-particularly seniors with age related macular degeneration (AMD) or
those with diabetic retinopathy who can benefit from using low vision optical devices.
About Low Vision Devices
A lot of patients with low vision
needs discover magnifying lenses on their own but introduction to new more
sophisticated devices is very important. A person's visual function is not
considered to be impaired until the vision in the better eye has deteriorated
to at least 20/50 or worse. Magnification devices are available for both near
and distance. The degree of magnification required depends on the patient's
visual acuity and the work for which the patient wishes to use the optical aid.
There are a few different kinds of low vision optical devices.
Hand Readers-the advantage of a hand magnifier is that it is small
and relatively inexpensive and easy to carry in a pocket or purse. The strength
of hand magnifiers ranges from 1x (4D) to 20x (80D). Most patients, when buying
magnifiers, believe that the larger the lens area, the greater the
magnification. Exactly the reverse is
true. A large plus lens cannot be a strong plus lens or, conversely, the
higher the plus power of the lens, the smaller the lens must be to reduce
distortion. It is good to know that holding a strong lens close to the eye
increases the viewing area.
Stand Magnifiers-provide a prefocused mounting, allowing stability
for patients with tremors to rest the magnifier directly on the material to be
seen. The power of these magnifiers can be as great as 60 diopters and some
have illumination incorporated within their design.
Telescopes-allow magnification of an object in the distance by
increasing the retinal image size. Telescopes can be hand held or spectacle
framed. They come as binocular or monocular and most are focusable. Telescopes
allow the spotting of street signs, classroom materials, bus signs, etc.
Projection Devices-closed circuit television is a useful aid, with
the camera scanning the reading material and projecting the image on a monitor.
The benefit of CCTV is that the magnification is available to 60x and the
contrast and brightness can be adjusted. In addition, there projection devices that
can read documents back to patients.
If you or someone you know would
like to learn more about low vision devices, please call
Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in
Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an
appointment.
Doctor & Associates offices
are located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195
Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk,
Connecticut 06851.
