According to the American Optometric Association, approximately 80% of what a child learns in school is acquired through vision, and […]
Prisms are an optical aid that redirect where an image is viewed and can be a very beneficial tool in helping people with low vision.
Prisms are a type of lens prescribed by an optometrist with a special feature that redirects the way the light reaches our eyes. It does not have refractive power like a traditional lens, however it performs a very important function of bringing images to our eyes in specific directions that are otherwise difficult to be seen. With a triangular shape, prisms are available in four directions known as base up, base down, base in and base out. Wherever the base is located indicates that the light is being redirected in the opposite direction. For example, a base down prism helps move the image upwards.
There are many optical uses for prisms in various fields, including vision therapy, and these lenses are also very instrumental in the field of low vision. Prisms are a helpful feature that eye doctors use to customize the prescription glasses to the patients’ individual needs and capabilities. Different applications of the use of prisms are detailed below.
When a person requires strong magnification due to a variety of reasons that are applicable in the low vision world, it could cause difficulty for the eyes to focus. This becomes especially relevant when using strong magnification and trying to look at a target that is close up. For example, when reading and using a high magnification, you need to bring the text very close to your face in order to read. This task requires the eyes to focus extremely inwards which can cause eye strain, and the magnification makes this inward motion challenging. Sometimes it’s too hard to meet these demands and therefore people resort to using magnification in only one eye, like a monocle. This is where prisms come into play because they are an optical tool used to help bring an image to a certain area. Prisms can be incorporated into high magnification glasses to help the eyes focus inwards together, and in a more comfortable way, despite the strong magnification.
Prisms accomplish a number of advantages in high magnification glasses, including:
Visual field loss is a prevalent issue in low vision. For example, up to half the amount of people who suffered from a stroke, have a visual field loss and they may or may not be aware of it. There are many people who suffer from the loss of visual field in certain directions due to a vast range of causes, such as:
When a person suffers a visual field loss, it is recommended that they are evaluated by a low vision optometrist who can decide the best way to help them maximize their visual abilities and reclaim their independence. Anyone with a visual field loss is at a greater risk of falling or sustaining injuries due to the fact that their vision is obstructed. There is no reason to suffer such risks alone, low vision optometrists can help. Depending on where the location is of the blind spot, otherwise known as a scotoma, the optometrist can add a prism to your glasses in order to help your eyes see images in the area that has suffered a loss of visual field. The eye doctor will help you learn how to adjust to the prisms so that you can enjoy better vision and overall functionality. For example, in the early stages of age related macular degeneration, prisms can be instrumental in enabling the patient to attain vision in the areas that have lost vision.
Many people with low vision suffer from double vision, also known as diplopia, due to a wide variety of reasons, including brain injuries or other neurological conditions. Prisms are used to help people with double vision in a way that can enhance their entire lifestyle by being able to see clearly and to accomplish day to day tasks. When there is double vision, each eye is focusing in a different direction. The eye doctor will prescribe prisms to direct both eyes to focus on the same target which can correct the double vision. Correcting diplopia with prisms can treat the symptoms of double vision including headaches, eye strain and general discomfort, in addition to enabling the person to reclaim clear vision and their independence.
There are different kinds of prisms, each with their own benefits, depending on every individual’s needs. There are two main categories of prisms:
The traditional way of implementing prisms is when the optical lab makes the lens with a prism built into it. A prism is a triangular feature of the lens in which the base of the triangle is the thick side of the prism and the point of the triangle, known as the apex, is the area that the light is being directed to.
For example, this is a base down prism:
The baseline is the thickest part of the prism and the light is being directed upwards so the base down prism redirects the image upwards.
It is important to consult with a professional when choosing frames for glasses that have prisms, as certain considerations must be taken into account for the thickness of the prism.
These prisms, also known as Fresnel prisms, are temporary and cost-effective as they are placed on the back surface of the lens and are not built into the lens. These prisms are made out of flexible vinyl and do not add any noticeable weight or thickness to the lens. It can be easily cut and placed on the lens in an adjustable way so that it’s easy to alter the prism, as needed.
Prism lenses can be extremely helpful for patients with low vision, allowing them to regain their clear vision and independence. It is important to see an eye doctor for a low vision eye exam and to receive a prescription customized to your daily needs. You can click here to schedule your low vision consultation Book an Appointment . Patients with low vision visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of low vision services for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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