| Low Vision Aids Help Make Your Life More Active | | | | progressive or graduated lenses. These low vision |
| Low vision can be caused by any number of | | | | reading aids come with lenses that offer minimum |
| reasons. Genetics can play a part, such as the low | | | | magnification at the top of the lens increasing to |
| vision that is common in albinism. Accidents can | | | | maximum magnification at the bottom of the lens. |
| have an impact on a person's vision, as can age. | | | | Magnifiers |
| As people age, they are at a greater risk for | | | | These low vision aids help to increase the size of |
| developing macular degeneration. Macular | | | | the image seen by the person with low vision. |
| degeneration causes a loss of central vision, which | | | | This is an important aspect of dealing with low |
| is crucial for such activities as reading, watching | | | | vision effectively, because when the central vision |
| television or seeing a computer screen clearly. | | | | is damaged, the larger you can make the image |
| There are low vision aids that can help make | | | | the more visible the image will be despite the |
| these activities a part of your life again. They can | | | | central vision loss. Magnifiers can be hand held or |
| include bifocal reading glasses, magnifiers, and | | | | designed as a lens to be inserted into the glass |
| telescopic glasses. Many vision problems can be | | | | frame, and are useful for close vision activities |
| resolved by using a variety of suitable low vision | | | | such as reading or playing cards. |
| products. | | | | Telescopic Glasses |
| Bifocal Reading Glasses | | | | Low vision aids that utilize tiny telescopes on the |
| Bifocals allow the wearer to see both near and | | | | glass lenses are useful when the wearer wishes |
| far distances depending on which part of the | | | | to participate in activities that require distance |
| eyeglass lens he or she looks through. They | | | | vision, although they can be adjusted for |
| typically have a smaller reading lens placed in the | | | | mid-range and near vision as well. The telescopes |
| bottom part of a regular sized lens used for | | | | are attached to the top of the glass lens, and you |
| distance sight. The wearer can shift focus by | | | | use them in a similar fashion as you would |
| moving the head up or down to look through the | | | | bifocals, by shifting your head to change the vision |
| appropriate part of the lens for the task at hand. | | | | range. If your vision needs change over time, |
| There is also a type of bifocal that has no line | | | | bioptic glasses can be readjusted easily to meet |
| where the division of lenses meet; they are called | | | | your ocular needs. |