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.

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.

Learn More

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Testimonials

I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.