Glossary
AMD
Age Related Macular Degeneration, a disease affecting the macular portion of the retina. There are two forms, wet and dry. It Occurs mostly in people over 60.
Autofocus
a lens system that automatically adjusts depending on the focal point distance.
Amaurosis Fugax
Transient vision loss – Amaurosis fugax is a condition that causes a temporary loss of vision in one or both eyes due to a lack of blood flow to the retina.
Amsler Grid
A square grid on a piece of paper for monitoring the progression of a macular disease such as AMD.
Cataracts
a condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and obscures vision.
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists
A Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) is a highly trained professional who specializes in assisting people who are blind, have limited vision…
CCTV
a monitor with a camera and stand for magnifying reading material
Central Vision
The vision straight ahead in the center of your visual field.
Choroid
a network of blood vessels in the retina
Drusen
are tiny yellow fatty protein (lipid) deposits that form beneath the retina.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye causes diabetic retinopathy (retina).
Filters
Tints used on lenses for different applications like reducing glare or enhancing contrast
Fixed Focus
A lens or lens system has one fixed focal point.
Handheld magnifier
Magnifying Optical lens that is handheld. These come in different strengths or magnifications.
IrisVision
An electronic wearable device with adjustable magnification for reading and viewing things in the distance. Capable of streaming video.
Legally Blind
If your better eye’s vision is 20/200 or less, or your field of vision (peripheral vision) is less than 20 degrees, you’re legally blind. For example, if an object is 200 feet from you, you must stand 20 feet away to see it clearly. A person with normal vision, on the other hand, may see the thing clearly from…
Low Vision Store
A store that sells low vision devices that don’t need a doctor’s prescription.
Low Vision
A person with low vision has vision that is only correctable to 20/40 or worse in both eyes.
Low Vision Therapist
An Occupational therapist that specializes in training people with low vision to use their devices, organize their homes and to function more independently using the resources available to them.
Low Vision Aid –
A device used to help a person with low vision or that is visually impaired to see, Identify, navigate, or function better.
Low Vision Rehabilitation
Training a person with low vision to use their devices, to function with their remaining vision to remain functional in their environments and independent.
Macula
the area of the retina with the most photoreceptors which gives the detailed vision and central vision.
Manual Focus
a lens system that can be manually adjusted or focuses for different focal points.
Neovascularization (neo- + vascular + -ization)
is the natural production of new blood vessels, usually in the form of functional microvascular networks capable of perfusion by red blood cells, that form to act as collateral circulation due to….
Nystagmus
An involuntary eye movement that causes the eye to move quickly from side to side, up and down, or even in a circle, blurring vision significantly.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition
Orcam
a wearable or handheld device with Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This device takes a picture of text and reads it back to you. It also has facial recognition.
OCT
Optical Coherence Tomographer- a scanning laser for measuring and mapping thickness and elevation of the retinal layers.
Ophthalmologist
A doctor of medicine who is licensed to diagnose and treat eye disease and performs surgery.
Optometrist
An eye doctor that is licensed to diagnose, and treat eye disease and prescribe medications and glasses and contact lenses.
Peripheral vision
side or surrounding vision, not the center or straight forward vision.
Prism
a lens that bends or shifts light
Prismatics
glasses that bends or shifts light in an outward direction so that the eyes don’t have to converge as much with large amounts of magnification and power. (Stronger magnifying lenses require holding the viewed object closer)
Retinal Specialist
Ophthalmologist that specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases or conditions of the retina and vitreous.
RP- Retinitis Pigmentosa
a genetic eye disease that causes night blindness and is progressive. Mostly affects the periphery but can also affect the central vision
Ruby XL
An electronic Magnifier
Scotoma
a blind area or spot of vision in a normally functioning visual field.
Stand magnifier
Optical magnifiers that are mounted or have a convertible stand that is placed on a table and the reading material or object to be viewed is placed underneath,
Stargardt disease
A rare eye condition where fatty material accumulates on the macula, it causes a rare genetic eye condition.
Telescope glasses
Glasses with miniature telescopes mounted in them for magnification for the visually impaired.
Transient vision loss
Vision loss that comes and goes or fluctuates.
Visual Field
When the eye is oriented forward, the entire region that is seen, including that viewed with peripheral vision.
Visually Impaired
A term used to describe someone who has some form of vision loss. It varies from very slight loss to blindness.
Vision Buddy
A wearable, electronic device for magnifying material close up and further away. Excels in the use for watching TV and computers.
Visual Acuity
The most frequent clinical evaluation of how well your eyes work is visual acuity. It’s usually the first tests performed during a full eye exam to measure your vision’s sharpness. If someone has 20/20 vision, …..
Vision therapy
is a type of treatment that aims to help people improve their visual skills as well as their visual comfort, ease, and efficiency, along with their visual processing and interpretation of information. Over the course of weeks to months…..
Visual Acuity
The most frequent clinical evaluation of how well your eyes work is visual acuity. It’s usually the first tests performed during a full eye exam to measure your vision’s sharpness. If someone has 20/20 vision, …..
Wearable low vision aids
A device that is worn on the face or head that helps a person with low vision to see, read or navigate better.
20/80 vision
A person’s vision is reduced to only being able to see the 20/80 sized letter on the acuity chart. The 80 letter size is 4 times larger than the 20 size (bottom number) and it is measured at 20 feet (top number)
20/60 vision
A person’s vision is reduced to only being able to see the 20/60 sized letter on the acuity chart. The 60 letter size is 3 times larger than the 20 size (bottom number) and it is measured at 20 feet (top number)