Optika Vitrum

AIDS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Every individual with impaired eyesight has problems starting already in everyday activities such as reading newspapers, watching television, moving around, etc. In case of substantial vision damage the patient cannot be adequately corrected with conventional eyeglasses or by contact lenses, nor with therapeutic or surgery methods. Apart from reduced acuity, the damages can cause reduction of the vision field, reduced sensitivity to light, deformed vision and loss of contrast. Impaired vision can be caused by congenital disorders, injuries, ageing process or as a complication due to certain diseases. Diseases that lead to significant damages of vision include: cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, high myopia, albinism, retinitis pigmentosa, amblyopia etc. The strategy of assisting such persons with impaired vision lies mainly in prescribing magnifying devices so that the patient would be able to recognise magnified items using the rest of their eyesight. For contrast improvement special medical filters are used, which are either fixed to the eyeglasses or installed in them.

MAGNIFYING DEVICES:

MAGNIFIERS:

Magnifiers for the visually impaired offer different magnifications, depending on the level of residual visual acuity and different designs for different purposes. Magnifiers often have integrated light for easier and more comfortable reading.

TELESCOPIC EYEGLASSES:

Telescopic eyeglasses are used for high magnifications, helping in static activities such as watching TV, in cinema, theatre and reading. .

ELECTRONIC MAGNIFYING DEVICES:

Electronic magnifying devices use a camera and the magnified image is transferred to the monitor. There are systems available that are used for reading connected to a PC and they can magnify letters by as many as 70 times if necessary. For the use outside home, small systems are used which fit into the purse or pocket so that they are always at hand when something has to be looked at, either in the near or in the distance.

FILTERS FOR CONTRAST IMPROVEMENT:

Loss of contrast is frequent in case of visual impairment. By selecting a suitable filter the contrast vision can be improved and the discomfort due to oversensitiveness to glare of the visually impaired reduced. For every individual disease a special colour of the filter is selected..