As we age, our eyesight generally deteriorates. For most, this means wearing glasses or contact lenses, but for some the deterioration becomes more severe.

This is sometimes referred to as ‘low vision'. Low Vision not only restricts reading, but also everyday tasks like watching TV, eating and mobility.

Fortunately, there are a range of products available that are designed to help people cope with low vision. These range from simple magnifying glasses to extra lighting and other devices.

Magnifying Glasses

The traditional hand-held magnifying glass is one of the most basic low vision aids. They are simple, portable and relatively cheap. As well as the most basic forms, they also come in bar and dome types. Bar magnifiers types are ideal for reading lines of text, as they not only increase the text size, but also focus the eye on the line being read.  Dome magnifiers work in a similar way, but tend to magnify an area.

Some traditional magnifiers have built in lighting that increases visibility, especially indoors.

The drawback of these types of magnifiers is that they need to be held in the hand, which can limit usability for those with problems with grip or similar issues. They are also more tiring to use, so are best suited for occasional use.

Stand Magnifiers

They use larger and heavier lenses, so are able to provide higher magnifications of a larger area. The stands also fix the distance from the object, so they are easier to use, and are great for magnifying a larger section of a page, such as a whole crossword.

They also have the advantage of leaving both hands free, so are ideal for writing or hobbies such as sewing.  Stand magnifiers can also some with built in lights, increasing the usefulness indoors.

The disadvantage of stand magnifiers are their size and weight – they are generally too large to be carried around easily

TV Glasses and Binoculars

TV Glasses are actually a form of compact wearable binoculars. These work exactly as any other binoculars you may have used, but are lightweight and designed to be worn for extended periods.

TV Glasses and wearable binoculars are good for watching TV, going for walk or watching sports. However, most do not focus at close range, so are not as useful for everyday tasks such as reading or writing.

Electronic Magnifiers and Readers

Electronic magnifiers use a camera and display screen to increase the size of anything you are looking at. Handheld versions are portable, while desktop versions allow easy magnification of entire pages.

Their main advantages are the flexibility of using any magnification level required. Some versions have text recognition and speech capabilities, so a page can be read to someone with high levels of visual impairment.

The disadvantages of these devices are generally the high costs, although they are coming down as the technology advances.

Anti-Glare Lenses

Some people with low vision have problems with glare both outdoors or from artificial lighting. Anti-glare and polarised lenses can cut this glare allowing for clearer vision. Traditionally used for driving and sports, anti-glare lenses can either be standalone glasses, or additional lenses that clip on to your existing glasses.

Lighting for Low Vision

For individuals with only moderate low vision problems, just adding extra lighting can make a significant difference. High power low vision lamps for reading and close work can reduce the need for using other magnifying glasses.

The lamps are available either main or battery operated – the latter can be very useful as it makes them much more portable. Some versions are designed to fold into a compact size for easy use anywhere.

With the range of technologies available, low vision does not have to stop you enjoying your hobbies and life.

Vision Enhancers supplies a complete range of low vision aids to opticians and direct to the public.