WHAT IS LOW VISION?

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DEFINE LOW VISION. YOU HAVE LOW VISION IF YOU CANNOT SEE "NORMALLY" OR CANNOT SEE WELL ENOUGH TO DRIVE SAFELY, WITH THE BEST REGULAR PRESCRIPTION GLASSES.

WHAT IS LEGAL BLINDNESS?

YOU ARE LEGALLY BLIND IF, WITH GLASSES, YOUR VISUAL ACUITY IS 20/200 OR WORSE IN YOUR BETTER EYE, OR YOU HAVE LESS THAN 10 DEGREES OF CENTRAL VISUAL FIELD.

CAN I HAVE LOW VISION AND NOT BE LEGALLY BLIND?

YES.

IF I HAVE LOW VISION, DOES THAT MEAN I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR?

IT DEPENDS. YOUR EYE DOCTOR CAN TELL YOU.

WHAT DOES A LOW VISION SPECIALIST DO?

TAKES A CAREFUL AND METHODICAL HISTORY OF YOUR VISUAL DIFFICULTIES WITH EMPHASIS ON YOUR CURRENT PROBLEMS.

CHECKS AND RECORDS YOUR CURRENT PRESCRIPTIONS.

PERFORMS A REFRACTION OF YOUR EYES TO DETERMINE YOUR BEST PRESCRIPTION.

DETERMINES WHICH LOW VISION DEVICES CAN HELP YOU TO FUNCTION BETTER FOR DISTANCE AND READING.

LOW VISION AIDS WHICH MIGHT BE PRESCRIBED:

SPECIAL PURPOSE BIFOCALS FOR COMPUTER USE, HOBBIES OR YOUR OCCUPATION.

MICROSCOPES

HIGH POWER READING GLASSES, FOR USE WITH ONE OR BOTH EYES, MAY ENABLE YOU TO READ NORMAL SIZE PRINT MORE EASILY.

TELESCOPES

HIGH POWER DEVICES FOR LOOKING AT FACES ACROSS
A ROOM OR STREET, READING SIGNS OR COMPUTER SCREENS OR WATCHING TV.

THEY CAN BE USED WITH ONE OF BOTH EYES.  THEY CAN BE EITHER HAND-HELD OR IN GLASSES

HAND MAGNIFIERS

ARE HELPFUL FOR READING PRICE TAGS, MENUS, THERMOSTATS, STOVE DIALS, ETC.

SUNGLASSES / FILTERS

MANY PEOPLE WITH VISION DISORDERS ARE LIGHT SENSITIVE. SPECIAL FILTERS MAY ENHANCE THEIR COMFORT AND FUNCTION.

ELECTRONIC MAGNIFIERS

FOR PATIENTS WHO CANNOT READ SATISFACTORILY WITH GLASSES, CERTAIN DEVICES CAN PLAY PRINT BACK ON A SCREEN AT A SIZE AND SPEED YOU CHOOSE.

MOST PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL (FROM BIRTH) OR ACQUIRED VISION LOSS CAN BE
HELPED WITH LOW VISION AIDS.