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Products for Low Vision

Low vision means that a person's vision cannot be corrected via glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. Sometimes low vision is the result of growing old. Other times it occurs when a person has diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute (NEI) explains how difficult low vision is to live with, because it makes it hard for individuals to go about their daily activities. Those with low vision need to utilize corrective devices in order to see with assistance and to function and live independently.

  1. Magnification Unit

    • Consider purchasing a low vision magnification unit with mirror image that is used to see yourself. This helps when applying make-up, plucking your eye brows or doing anything that requires a close-up look at your face. This unit can be used for reading, as well as for viewing objects at a distance.

    Portable Devices

    • Portable magnification devices are also available. These devices can go with you and allow you to complete tasks such as writing a check and reading a bill or the label on a prescription bottle. These units are pocket sized and convenient to carry.

    Hand-Held or Spectacle-Mounted Magnifiers and Telescopes

    • Hand-held magnifiers, which are often equipped with a light, can help you read items such as menus, books, instructions and price tags. A spectacle-mounted magnifier is attached to a headband or mounted onto your glasses, which leaves your hands free. Other low vision devices include hand-held or spectacle-mounted telescopes, which allow a person to see across a room and which can be altered to be used for reading, explains the American Optometric Association (AOA).

    Non-Optical Devices and Other Options

    • Non-optical devices such as large print books are an option, according to DukeHealth.org. Another non-optical device that can be of assistance is a talking clock. Other options include text-to-speech readers and optical character recognition (OCR), which is the electronic translation of writing or text to a computer.

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