6 Low Vision Aids to Improve Your Life and Work

When it comes to helping low vision sufferers, the world of assistive technology can feel somewhat overwhelming. With dozens of products on the market, it’s difficult to know where to start - or end! This list is designed to help you get a sense of what’s out there and how you can make informed decisions about which products will work best for you. 

Reading is one of the hardest things for people with visual impairments. Many people who have low vision stop reading because what used to be an enjoyable, spontaneous activity now requires thought, preparation, and a lot of adjustment. Reading just isn’t fun anymore.

Low Vision Devices

Low vision optical devices help people with low vision to read, see distances, and do daily tasks. These include devices such as a stand and hand-held magnifiers, strong magnifying reading glasses, loupes, and telescopes. The optics on these devices are often different from those of regular glasses, providing up to 60X the magnification power. 

There are a lot of types of low vision optical devices and they’re used for different tasks. One might be for reading, another for watching TV and seeing faces, and another for sewing. Your doctor may also recommend sunglasses to reduce glare and protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) and blue light. 

If you have low vision, standard prescription eyeglasses are usually no longer sufficient for both distance and near tasks. You might also need to use various optical devices to help with a variety of everyday tasks you want to be able to do. 

Many people with low vision use different glasses to see at different distances. You may find that they are different from what you might be used to in the past when one pair of glasses (like eyeglasses) took care of your near, intermediate, and far-sighted vision. 

There are many low vision devices that can make reading easier and more rewarding for individuals with various eye conditions that cause low vision, including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, tunnel vision, and more. Some examples of these devices are:

1. Magnifiers

Magnifying glass for Macular Degeneration is one of the most affordable low vision devices for reading, and some have been designed with illumination so that print becomes even more visible. There are also fancier models that rest on height-adjustable stands and others that are supported by bands draped around your neck.

2. Reading Glasses

Special glasses can help people with low vision read the small print. These glasses are available in single vision designs or as bifocals. I would recommend that people who need these stronger-than-normal reading glasses take some time to get used to them. (You have to be closer to the reading material.) But, it’s worth the trade-off.

3. Reading Telescopes

Reading telescopes are usually mounted on the lenses of eyeglasses. People who use these low vision devices for reading need some training to use them properly, but once they do, reading telescopes are a powerful ally. Hand-held versions are also available, and they’re just as helpful.

4. Video Magnifiers

Have you ever heard about video magnifiers (or ZoomText) for the visually impaired? These devices have a camera that displays highly magnified images on a video monitor and can let you sit as close as you need to. You can adjust the magnification, brightness, contrast, and color of the display to your liking.

5. Portable Electronic Magnifiers

Electronic devices come in various shapes and sizes that resemble an iPad. These devices can be held in front of reading material to see the enlarged text on the LED screen.

6. Text to Voice Devices

There are a variety of devices available for people with visual impairments, like the OrCam Read which can identify text on books, phone screens, computers, and more. It can then convert that text to be read out loud by a computer voice.

Conclusion

It’s recommended that you see an eye doctor who is a low vision specialist to determine the right devices for you. Some doctors may recommend starting with one or two to see how you manage and then adding more as you use them and grow more accustomed to working with them.