Hi-Tech Visual Aids For Visual Impairment

Our low vision optometrist has extensive experience in helping people select the appropriate visual devices for their needs.

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What Is Low Vision?

Low vision refers to those eye disorders that cannot be fully corrected using standard interventions such as corrective glasses, lenses, or surgical procedures. Vision impairment can be frustrating because it impacts a person’s quality of life. The inability to perform routine tasks or engage in recreational activities such as reading, watching TV, or driving can be devastating.

Despite the challenges, there are many excellent high tech vision aids today to assist people who struggle with low vision. The following article will provide a general introduction to some of these technologies.

What High Tech Visual Aids Are Available for Low Vision?

In our era of technological advancements, there are a wide range of high tech aids to assist people with low vision and enable them to resume normal activity. These include the use of electronic magnifiers, CCTC stand magnifiers, wearable glasses, and assistive technologies to maximize residual vision.

Electronic magnifiers: These sophisticated magnifiers can be handheld or head-mounted and they provide powerful magnification. There are also magnification technologies for smartphones to assist central vision loss.
- Zoomax: Some remarkable technologies are offered by companies like Zoomax who specialize in electronic magnification technologies, and offer advanced devices such as Acesight which provides head mounted magnification via tiny cameras.

CCTV stand magnifiers: Desktop magnifiers, or CCTV devices, provide powerful magnification technology that is available in fixed or portable options.
- Optelec: This company features various high tech CCTV devices for your needs. There are options for those requiring a compact portable device, as well as fixed-stand desktop devices.
- Freedom Scientific: This is another company offering high-quality desktop CCTV magnification devices, as well as powerful hand-held electronic magnification devices such as Ruby Family Solutions, which provides crisp, high-contrast,imagery.

Wearable Technology: eSight’s “electronic eyewear” utilizes the brain’s synaptic activity to maximize and improve visual acuity. IrisVision is marketed as the only wearable electronic eyewear that is clinically validated and created in conjunction with scientists from prestigious universities. NuEyes offers NuEyes Pro as well as NuCall for advanced wearable video-calling technology.
Electronic/computer based: Includes apps, programs, and technologies that utilize audio and digital technology to aid those with low vision.These include technology for digital image enhancement, contour enhancement, voice activation, and object recognition technology. Examples include:
- TapTapSee: A downloadable smartphone app that identifies and announces objects aloud with voice technology, when you upload images or videos of the item to the program.
- KFNB Reader: This app allows you to take snapshots of text, and easily converts the text to speech or Braille.
- SeeingAl: An advanced Artificial Intelligence program that identifies the world around you via an advanced AI camera app, that describes what it captures.
- OrCam: Offering some of the most advanced artificial intelligence based solutions for the visually impaired. Products include OrCam MyEye, a wearable device that reads text, recognizes faces, identifies products & more, as well as OrCam Read, a handheld AI reader for people with reading difficulties, that reads full pages of text at the push of a button.

What Ocular Conditions Cause Low Vision?

There are many eye disorders that cause low vision. They include:

Age-related macular degeneration: As people age, damage to the macula region of the eye may lead to impaired vision.
Cataracts: An ocular condition where the lens becomes cloudy. While many cataracts can be corrected surgically, low vision care is necessary for people with inoperable cataracts.
Diabetic retinopathy: Low vision resulting from diabetes and damage to the retina.
Glaucoma: A serious eye disease that can lead to vision loss and blindness if untreated. Easily detected with a simple test.
Injury/trauma: Injury from vehicular accidents or trauma from strokes and related conditions can lead to low vision.

Which Hi Tech Low Vision Aid Is Best For Me?

People with low vision experience frustration when they can no longer engage in daily activities. The impact it can have on daily living can be devastating. Fortunately, with technological advances, there are many effective high tech devices on the market which have radically improved the lives of those with low vision. These interventions allow them to partake of activities they previously enjoyed.

While there are many available technologies, the price range may be cost prohibitive for people on a fixed income. Our low vision optometrist has effective low vision devices to accommodate all budgets. Additionally, we offer simple payment plans which enable people with fixed incomes to enjoy the benefits of these life-improving devices.

High tech devices are not ideal for everyone. Seniors often find it difficult to learn how to use a device, or they may find it cumbersome to tote around with them. Often they aren’t necessary, and such individuals can experience significant improvement with a low-tech device.

If you or a loved one has low vision and would like to know more about the many available high tech and low tech devices, schedule an appointment with our low vision doctor; who is equipped to help you find the right devices for your individual needs.

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Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!