Do Low Vision Aids Help in Independent Living?

Low vision assistive devices exist in simpler forms and models, like optical and non-optical aids, to slightly advanced and complex electronic and digital magnifiers. Optical and non-optical devices offer quite simple and economical solutions, whereas digital/electronic magnifying solutions are comparatively complex and costly.

Optical Devices for Low Vision: A variety of devices make up this category of visual aids, handheld and stand magnifiers, loupes, small telescopes as well as strong magnifying reading glasses. These are better than your regular glasses, owed to their high magnification power and higher quality optics (i.e. the superior mechanics used in bending/refracting light). To use them optimally, you often have to get some training initially.

Non-optical Devices for Low Vision: These are slightly different from their optical counterparts, featuring various adaptations like reading stands, typoscopes, glare control (absorptive) sunglasses and tactile locator dots. Non-optical low vision aids are designed to supplement optical low vision aids and offer assistance in reading, writing, organizing, labeling and a host of other day-to-day activities.

Electronic Magnification Systems: A variety of designs, sizes, shapes and features constitute this category of low vision aids, depending upon the task you want to perform. Many include a camera system (for capturing images) and a monitor (to display the captured images), which displays a highly magnified view of the image captured by the camera. Such visual aids serve best for reading books, magazines and emails. There are also portable versions of these electronic magnification systems, which you can take along wherever you go. These are meant to help you read labels, coupons and menus when you are out shopping or dining.