By Joshua Enyoyo Yusuf
Low vision is prominent among geriatrics that are frequently relatively immobile so that the retention of some ability to read is of vital importance. Low vision aids improve the reading capability and speed of reading. Visual aids for distance are less practical than those for near. Accurate refraction and appropriate illumination should be ensured for optimal retinal image. Magnification is the basis of most techniques used in low vision clinic. There are three methods of enlarging the retinal image :-
- By bringing the object nearer to the eye.
- By magnification of the retinal image.
- By increasing the size of the object to be viewed.
- Bringing the object nearer to the eye, leads to larger visual angle being subtended at the eye.
Magnification, though increases the size of retinal image, leads to diminished visual field and reduced depth of focus. Due to this, lighting should be ample and directed on the fixation area. Therefore, lowest magnification compatible with useful vision should be employed .
OPTICAL DEVICES
Hand-held Magnifiers Hand – held magnifiers are the simplest type of magnifiers. The hand-held magnifier design involves a handle that is attached to a plus lens through which the user views an object. Since user must support the weight of magnifier, hand-held magnifiers are helpful for short term spotting task, like reading a prescription bottle or a price tag. There are illuminated or non-illuminated magnifiers with a variety of lens designs e.g. aspheric , aplanatic , biconvex , and diffractive lens.
Stand Magnifiers: Stand Magnifier is a plus lens mounted on legs that fix the distance from the lens to object. Stand Magnifiers are good for extended, near tasks such as reading a book, newspaper or magazine and making small notes. There are illuminated or non-illuminated magnifiers. There are around-the- neck magnifiers , for jobs which require both hands to be free, like sewing and knitting.
Magnifying Reading Glasses: Magnifying reading glasses have plus lenses for short term use as a replacement, but cannot substitute the prescription glasses. These may be having constant power or are progressive to be used for varying reading distances . These may be of illuminated type, which can be used in the dark.
Spectacle Magnifiers: Spectacle magnifiers are ideal for extended near tasks like reading or working on hobbies because they allow users to have ‘ hands free’. These may be Clip– on system to be worn over the glasses.
Prismatic eye wear: Prisms are incorporated in spectacle to aid monocular or binocular vision. These may be bifocal, with normal reading power in upper part, and prismatic high power in the lower part for reading fine print. Noves spectacle magnifier It uses diffractive lenses which are much thinner than the lenses of similar power.
NON- OPTICAL DEVICES :- Increasing the size of the object to
be viewed helps in approach to low vision e.g. Large-size telephone bills or
large-size print books. The benefits of optical devices, may be enhanced by
non-optical means, such as improving light or reducing glare.
Flexible-Arm Task Lamps :-
Flexible-arm task lamps can be adjusted to a variety of tasks by
providing proper light.
Full Spectrum Light Bulbs :- Full spectrum light bulbs provide full range of colours found in sunlight, and hence more natural light. A sunscreen may be needed for longer duration of work, just as working out door in sunlight.
Absorptive Sun lenses/Sun glasses :- Absorptive sun lenses filter out ultraviolet
and infrared light. These are helpful in bright light , reduce glare and
increase contrast.
Coloured Acetate Sheets z-
Coloured acetate sheets, especially yellow or marigold, when placed on
the page, can enhance contrast between the print and background, making words
and letters appear darker and easier to read.
NON- MAGNIFYING VISUAL AIDS :-
Stenopaeic Hole :- Stenopaeic hole is useful in any error of
refraction or where the transparency of the ocular media is at fault. It is
useful to a presbyope to read or write in an emergency.
As a stenopaeic slit, it may protect against ultraviolet
radiation reflected from the snow.
As a reading slit cut in dark cardboard or plastic material,
when placed immediately over print, may help patients with early lens
opacities. In such cases, reflected light from the page is decreased and the
contrast is thereby increased, allowing greater clarity in reading.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES :-
Video Magnifiers :-
Video magnifiers use video cameras to project a magnified image onto a
video monitor , a television (TV ) screen, or a computer monitor. Video
magnifiers use stand-mounted or hand-held video cameras and are also called
‘closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems’. Apart from the undistorted
magnification, CCTV offers two other advantages. The polarity may be reversed,
allowing the print to be offered as white on black, the contrast is found
helpful by some patients. It is possible to isolate one line of print, which
may make it more intelligible.
Hand-held video magnifiers rest against the reading material
and generally have a small integrated display. Some hand-held magnifiers can
project magnified image on a television.
Stand-mounted like Desktop video magnifiers have a table
surface on which the object is placed. Above the object, is a camera and
monitor upon which the magnified image is projected.
Newer Technologies :-
Advances in consumer electronics is improving quality of life for people
with low vision. Digital devices and apps offer options for portable,
lower-cost low vision aids.
E- readers – The iPad and other electronic- readers are
portable, and allow the user to adjust the font size and contrast setting. They
have text-to-speech functionality and can read aloud to the user. E-readers do
not offer the same level of magnification as CCTVs.
Smartphones and Tablets
– Both Apple and Android based
smartphones and tablets offer a range of apps and built-in functions to help
people with low vision.
Magnify, iRead and
iLoupe use camera of device, and light source to magnify and illuminate text.
SightBook app digitally communicate your vision changes to
your ophthalmologist by measuring your visual function with a set of near vision tests.
Mapquest app provides voice-guided directions and tells the driver when to turn.
References:
http://www.who.int/blindness/Vision2020_report.pdf
www.aoa.org
www.kellogg.umich.edu
www.eschenbach.com
www.visionaware.org
www.geteyesmart.com
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