Low Vision Aids and prosthetics are designed to help individuals with significant vision impairment or loss to improve their quality of life and functionality.
Low Vision Aids
Low vision aids are devices and tools used to enhance remaining vision and help people with visual impairments perform daily tasks. They are not intended to restore vision but to maximise the use of existing vision.
| Low Vision Aids | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Handheld Magnifiers | Portable devices used for close-up tasks like reading. They come in various magnification levels |
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| Stand Magnifiers | Magnifiers that rest on a table or desk, often equipped with built-in lighting for easier use |
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| Electronic Magnifiers | Digital devices that enlarge text and images on a screen, with adjustable magnification and contrast |
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| Monocular Telescopes | Portable magnification devices for viewing distant objects, used with one eye |
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| Binocular Telescopes | Devices that provide magnification for distance viewing with both eyes, offering a natural perspective |
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| Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) | Systems that use a camera to project enlarged images onto a screen, allowing for adjustable magnification | |
| Text-to-Speech Devices | Devices that convert printed text into spoken words, helping those who have difficulty reading |
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| Electronic Glasses | Wearable devices with cameras and displays that assist with reading, face recognition, and more |
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| Large Print Materials | To make reading easier for those with low vision |
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| Braille Tools | Braille displays and notetakers that convert text to Braille for reading and writing |
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Prosthetics
Prosthetics for vision impairment are devices designed to replace or enhance missing or damaged parts of the eye, or to provide visual function.
| Category | Vision Aid | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Retinas | Retinal Implants | Devices implanted in the eye to stimulate the retina, aiding individuals with retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa. |
| Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System | A specific retinal implant that provides partial vision to individuals with severe retinitis pigmentosa. | |
| Bionic Eyes | Implantable Devices | Devices implanted in the eye or brain to provide visual information, potentially restoring some degree of vision. |
| Orion Visual Cortical Prosthesis System | A system that bypasses the eye and directly stimulates the visual cortex, designed for those with damage to the optic nerve or eye. | |
| External Vision Prosthetics | Wearable Cameras and Glasses | Devices that capture visual information and convert it into auditory or tactile feedback. |
| eSight Eyewear | Glasses equipped with a camera and digital display that enhance and project images to the wearer’s eyes |