Electronic vision enhancement for low vision

In trying to fight eye problems, innovators have worked hard to come up with technological breakthroughs and innovations to combat vision conditions. Among them are electronic devices that provide electronic vision enhancement. They can provide an extremely high level of magnification over a field of view that is not aberration-limited, and the image can be viewed binocularly from a comfortable working distance.

In addition to magnification, the image can be manipulated to introduce artificial color, contrast reversal, or enhancement, and text can be reformatted. The devices classified as electronic vision enhancement devices are designed specifically for the visually impaired.

Electronic devices

Electronic low vision devices provide the largest field of view, the most comfortable viewing distances, and the highest magnification. However, they are also the most expensive type of low-vision device.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the most commonly used electronic low vision device. It offers brightness and contrast enhancement controls and is a good choice for people with severe visual impairment. However, because CCTV systems are so big and heavy, they are usually fixed in one place, such as a library. There are also other portable electronic devices available, which include: a digital camera that captures images and enlarges them to the desired magnification. These, however, are a bit more expensive.

Other optical low vision devices

Hand-held magnifiers– are favored by people with low vision because they are easy to handle. They offer flexibility in magnification: you can change both the distance between the magnifier and the object or text and the distance between the magnifier and the magnifier. However, the use of hand-held magnifiers requires steady hands and good-eye-hand coordination, especially for high-power lenses. This limits the usefulness of these devices for young children and those with upper limb disabilities.

Dome magnifiers are a type of specially designed stand magnifier that can double the magnification for those who use relative distance magnification, single-vision spectacle magnifiers, and hand-held magnifiers. They are also super easy to use.

Single-vision spectacle magnifiers are suitable because of the close working distances needed and have flexible limbs. They also provide a large field of view and reduce eye strain. This prolongs a person’s viewing time.

There are also non-optical devices that can be used to correct vision. The use of a table lamp with a “gooseneck” to control the direction of the light can be helpful for those who need above-average illumination. Non-optical devices are reasonably easy to obtain. They can often be bought in stationers’ furniture shops or optical shops.