Low vision refers to when one or both eyes lose the ability to see clearly, despite still possessing some usable sight. Although legally blind, individuals with low vision still retain some usable vision.

Specialized low vision aids are designed to maximize users’ remaining visual ability, enabling them to accomplish daily tasks independently and preserve independence. Some of the most useful assistive technology for low vision includes desktop video magnification devices; portable and laptop video magnification; telescopic devices and OCR/text-to-speech software.

Prismatic Glasses

Prism glasses provide relief for patients suffering from double vision by redirecting the light entering each eye to create one image, providing relief from symptoms like eye strain or headaches. Although typically used to treat strabismus (crossed eyes), prism lenses can also be helpful for relieving symptoms like eye strain or headaches.

prismatic glasses offer an alternative to hand-held and stand magnifiers by mounting onto both of their frames so both hands remain free, giving the user greater mobility while still enabling reading, writing, using computers/tablets etc. Prismatic glasses offer an economical solution for those struggling to hold heavy hand-held magnifiers or those having difficulty using traditional tabletop magnification devices such as stand magnifiers.

There are various kinds of prism glasses available depending on a patient’s individual needs, including monocular prisms, bi-monocular prisms and tri-monocular prisms. Each option offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages depending on specific scenarios; so it is wise to consult an eye care professional or other appropriate parties to identify which solution would work best in any particular circumstance.

Prism glasses go beyond providing users with clear and large images to meet the user’s visual needs, they also use microprisms to subtly shift visual fields so as to compensate for peripheral vision loss due to conditions like hemianopia that cause reductions in size of visual fields.

Prism glasses also can significantly enhance quality of life for their users by increasing situational awareness by allowing the patient to detect obstacles and pedestrians from all sides instead of constantly turning their head. This can greatly decrease risks of accidents as well as foster independence while creating greater independence among users.

Prism glasses must be worn regularly in order to be effective, and are best used alongside other therapeutic strategies like repetitive pointing and ecological tasks to maximize their benefits.

Digital Magnifiers

Digital magnifiers are electronic devices that use cameras to perform digital magnification of printed materials on a flat-screen display, typically LCD technology (although older video magnifiers used CRT technology).

These devices can help individuals with low vision complete everyday tasks more easily and independently. They’re ideal for improving reading and writing abilities, viewing maps or pictures, preparing food or shopping, as well as any tasks involving seeing small print or objects.

Digitized magnifiers are often combined with other assistive technologies, including scanners and computers, for optimal use. Furthermore, voice activated software provides text reading aloud as well as functionality like scanning bookmarking.

The Mouse CCTV is a powerful, portable digital reading aid created specifically to assist those with low vision. Resembling a computer mouse in size and design, it connects directly to any TV or monitor with video input instantly and enables users to easily read newspapers, magazines, recipes cards medicine labels easily either at home or work – perfect for reading newspapers magazines recipes cards medicine labels etc.

Jupiter, a handheld digital magnifier with a high-definition LCD screen, allows users to easily navigate between zoom levels and display modes (reading line, reading mask and freeze frame). Jupiter is user friendly and fits nicely in APH Transition Backpack (1-08211-00).

The Prodigi Connect 12 is more than a digital magnifier; it opens the door to the Android world. Combining desktop and distance viewing capabilities with access to over one million apps available through Google Play Store. Durable and child-safe design; comes complete with signature guide; powered by open and secure operating system – truly connected! This low vision magnifier is smarter and more connected than any other low vision magnifier on the market!

Reading Telescopes

Many of our low vision patients rely on optical devices such as glasses, hand-held and stand magnifiers, or computer software designed to enlarge print. Others may choose special cameras designed to capture images with text overlays while yet others utilize voice synthesis programs that read aloud or magnify text on computer programs or systems. Sometimes medically prescribed optical lenses such as telescopic or bioptic telescopes or contact lens solutions and coatings supplement these tools.

Optic low vision aids can assist those living with cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma to better their near and distance vision. These assistive devices include convex lens aids like eyeglasses or bifocals as well as telescopic binoculars for distance viewing as well as handheld or stand magnifiers to magnify near vision.

Politzer Micro Spiral Galilean telescopes are among the latest generation of small and lightweight telescopic aids designed specifically to aid low vision patients. These cosmetically appealing systems can be used both for near and distance vision thanks to a front spiraling system which allows the user to switch the magnification level between near and far vision easily and back again, and accommodate prescription glasses without an adjustment process for spectacle correction incorporated within each lens – easily fitted and trained by most eye care professionals.

Telescopes that are mounted to spectacle lenses or frames leave both hands free to perform tasks and can be worn for long periods without discomfort. Available both monocularly and binocularly, monocle-mounted telescopes cover prescriptions of up to 14 diopters; making it an excellent solution for students, electricians and office workers who require hand-free viewing solutions for long periods.

New wearable devices in this category allow users to magnify the print on their computer or hand-held device up to 100x, making text larger for those who may have difficulty using standard screen enlargement software, mechanical enlarging systems like copiers, or printing services; also beneficial for patients suffering from tremors or muscle weakness who cannot comfortably hold onto an object for extended periods.

Smart Glasses

There are various digital solutions available to aid those with low vision, such as magnifiers and head-borne telescopes; however, some newer smart glasses incorporate augmented reality (AR) technology for real-time information overlay. This enables users to still view the world with their own eyes but still gain access to helpful data about their surroundings and environment which allows for greater independence and autonomy.

AR technology not only offers real-time visual information, but it can also reduce mobility issues caused by impaired peripheral vision, often due to central vision loss due to conditions like age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), or retinitis pigmentosa. Biel Glasses utilize sensors to detect objects or hazards like steps or holes in the road and display this data on their inbuilt mOLED display panel in real time – warning users about potential threats that could threaten their health and safety.

Oppo’s latest high-tech smart glasses are designed to look like traditional spectacles and provide features such as touch sensors along the frame, music playback and phone calls. Furthermore, these glasses can detect people’s faces automatically and focus on them automatically; making these glasses an invaluable aid for people living with low vision as they can also be customized with different color schemes to reflect individual user styles or personalities.

These glasses are lightweight yet capable of providing high-resolution images at peak brightness of over 1,000 nits – almost equaling smartphone screens in brightness! Connectable via USB to many smartphones and other devices, they should last seven hours on one charge.

To facilitate user control with ease, the glasses come equipped with an eyeframe ring that can be tapped to play and pause music or slide forward to reject calls by sliding forwards. In addition, there’s an embedded button on the left side that activates voice control that enables hands-free calling with its integrated microphone.

Oppo has placed great emphasis on the AI aspect of its Air Glass 3 prototype, which allows users to interact with a virtual assistant based on OpenAI’s ChatGPT large language model. This could make these glasses an effective tool for communication – perhaps enough so to convince people with low vision they are worth wearing them.