Low Vision Aids

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Low Vision Aids

What is low vision?

If you are living with low vision, you may have increased difficulty with daily activities and a reduced feeling of safety, confidence, and independence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Low vision is visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/400, with the best possible correction (including corrective lenses, medication, or surgery), or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.”The leading causes of low vision in children are uncorrected refractive errors, albinism, eye trauma, pediatric cataracts, glaucoma, and pediatric retinal diseases. For adults, common causes of low vision include macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. To learn more about low vision, watch this low vision video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

What are low vision aids?

A broad range of tools and products for the visually impaired are designed to help millions of children and adults maximize the use of the vision they still have. Low vision aids come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, price points, and functions.

Low vision aids can help with virtually any activity and range from low-tech and mid-tech to the latest high-tech options, including the increasing use of AI (artificial intelligence)-enhanced tools. Examples of low vision aids include, but are not limited to:

  • Low-tech:Correctly refracted glasses, magnifying eye glasses, sunglasses, and blue light blockers;white canes for vital orientation and mobility support; braille and large-print books, magazines, calendars, cards, and more; tactile markers, braille labelers and keyboards, stand and hand-held magnifiers, and telescopes; task lighting; reading stands; anti-glare eyeglasses; liquid level indicator; egg separator and many other kitchen tools and devices; large print clocks and more.
  • Mid-tech: Screen readers and magnification software that enlarges or translates screen images into audio or braille; braille notetakers; talking clocks, thermostats, appliances, tools, and devices; audiobooks and eBooks; electronic magnifiers and video magnifiers; workstation accessories including desktop cameras that magnify printed material, expanded monitor screens, and polarized monitor filters, portable scanners, readers, and video magnifiers. A broad range of desktop and mobile apps are also available, including apps like Be My Eyes that provide access to live volunteers who can assist with all types of activities and support.
  • High-tech: Smartphones and AI-supported apps;smart canes incorporating AI functionality;voice-activated assistants/home assistants (such as Siri or Google Assistant), a broad range of “Wearables,” including glasses and headphones with cameras and displays that help to identify objects, scan and read text, and so much more. An increasingly large number of these tools are using AI and AR (augmented reality) technology,

Technology is leading the way in developing innovative low vision devices and software. While this latest technology is often costlier than low-tech and mid-tech options, this new generation of low vision aids offers exciting new options, including:

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) devices — built into eyeglasses or a headset, computer, tablet, or used as a freestanding unit, enabling text to be scanned, converted to audio, and read aloud to the user.
  • Smart Devices, including phones and tablets, now feature screen magnification, contrast adjustment, text modification, voice commands, and access to apps—including those for navigation and travel—that further adjust functionality for people with low vision. Home Smart devices can also be connected to appliances and other home devices, fixtures, and appliances for easier use.
  • Smart Glasses employ video technology, augmented reality (AR), AI, and high-power cameras and lenses.

Access this great list of low vision apps, devices, and technologies from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, categorized by “built-in tools on Apple and Android devices, daily tasks and object identification, magnification, reading, navigation and transportation, shopping, socializing, and what’s new.”

Have you had a low vision eye exam?

A low vision exam is different from a general eye exam. It typically begins with a very in-depth discussion about goals and specific challenges encountered when performing a broad range of everyday activities. Low vision specialists use additional tests (beyond the standard tests used in a regular exam) to assess specific forms of vision loss, providing targeted approaches and functional aids to optimize the use of residual vision.