| Low vision devices include eyeglasses, but there | | | | actually consist of miniature telescopes mounted |
| are many more low vision products available | | | | atop a pair of regular glasses. Such low vision |
| today that can assist patients in living with | | | | devices can be adjusted for a wide range of |
| macular degeneration symptoms. While laser | | | | activities that require both distance and near |
| surgery can be used to treat the "wet" variety of | | | | vision. While bioptic glasses for low vision work in |
| age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, there | | | | the same way (you tilt your head forward |
| is no known cure for the "dry" form of this | | | | slightly), they differ from bifocal reading glasses in |
| leading cause of blindness. However, low vision | | | | that the telescopic lens is not integrated into the |
| devices can help such a victim in making the most | | | | primary lens itself. |
| of what eyesight remains. | | | | Other low vision products for age related macular |
| Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects | | | | degeneration include such products as the portable |
| the central part of the retina, and therefore one's | | | | digital magnifier, which resembles "virtual reality" |
| ability to determine fine details such as print, | | | | goggles and is used in conjunction with a special |
| faces, and images. Essentially, one develops a | | | | pair of glasses. One of the most interesting low |
| "hole" in one's vision; if the subject is looking at an | | | | vision products on the market today consists of a |
| object that appears smaller than this "hole," the | | | | miniature TV camera that actually rests on the |
| object cannot be seen clearly. Therefore, the | | | | surface of whatever the patient is reading, |
| purpose of low vision devices is to increase the | | | | magnifies it, and sends that image electronically, |
| apparent size of these objects. | | | | projecting an image on the inner surfaces of |
| Because we use our eyes in different ways in | | | | eyeglass lenses! Such a system allows the |
| different situations, there is no one solution for | | | | patient's head to remain in an upright position; no |
| addressing macular degeneration symptoms. One | | | | longer is it necessary to tilt one's head. |
| patient may require several different low vision | | | | Of course, such high-tech vision aids are quite |
| products. Bifocal reading glasses are one of the | | | | expensive at the present. However, if the history |
| best known and most common low vision | | | | of other technologies such as the PC and the |
| devices, but may not be appropriate for all | | | | DVD is any indicator, the cost of such low vision |
| macular degeneration symptoms. | | | | devices should come down substantially over the |
| Bioptic glasses for low vision, also known as | | | | next few years. |
| bioptic telescopes, are low vision devices that | | | | |