Handheld Devices For Low Vision In New York

Traditionally any patient with a visual impairment from AMD, Glaucoma, Inoperable Cataracts, Retinitis Pigmentosa and the many other eye diseases that cause low vision, would choose a handheld telescope monocular for distance and a handheld magnifier for near vision.

The handheld telescopes are optical devices that magnify objects that are at a distance. These are used by low vision patients who perform a lot of activities that involve viewing objects at a distance.

In this blog, we will look at some of the handheld options available, as well as the pros and cons of handheld versus wearable low vision devices.

Hand-held telescopes -

This device is used with one eye and one eyepiece. Thus, it is also known as a telescopic monocular. Usually, it is used for just short viewing periods. Examples of where these can be used are reading signs on the street, house numbers, restaurant menus, prices at the grocery store, and aisle numbers at a store.Some advantages of using hand-held telescopes are:

Hand Held Magnifiers

These devices use magnification and many times built-in lighting to help with reading, sewing, painting, and other near vision tasks.  Today there are also digital versions of the handheld magnifiers that not only offer crystal clear picture but also include many other advanced features such as contrast control.

Some of the advantages of handheld devices are.

• They are portable and can be carried in your pocket using a cord.
• They can be used for viewing distant items and objects that are fairly close.
• They are inexpensive, although the higher quality digital devices are more expensive.
• You can choose from a range of magnification powers.

Some disadvantages of these are:

• Field of view is small
• Not enough illumination for seeing bright images
• Walking with it not recommended due to depth perception being affected
• Need to be held with perfectly still hands, a near impossibility over time, making them only fit for short-term use.
• They require carrying extra devices with you at all times.

What other options are there for a low vision patient?

Today there are innovations in low vision optics and technology all the time. From advanced digital glasses like Esight, OrCam to implantable telescopes like CentraSight, and telescopic or bioptic glasses, there are so many great options for a patient with impaired vision. If you are a low vision patient in New York City Or Long Island, speak to Dr. Schoenbart for a free phone consultation, where he will explain the many options available for a patient with vision loss.