What Does a Low Vision Patient Mean?
It is a patient who does not sufficiently see through the normal spectacle lens due to any illness (age-related yellow spot disease, eye pressure, night blindness, eye shaking, etc.). Often patients whose vision level falls below 30% have difficulties in their daily activities and reading tasks.
What are the Reasons for Low Vision?
Ambient turbidity: Cataract, stain on cornea layer.
Central visual field loss: Age related macular degeneration (yellow spot disease) are diseases such as macular scar. They have difficulty seeing the point they look at. They have difficulty in reading closely.
Peripheral visual field loss: These are diseases such as night blindness and eye pressure. The visual fields are narrowed. Orientation abilities of patients decreased.
What Are The Aid Devices For The Low Vision?
1. Special Filter Glasses
By filtering short wavelength rays in the environment, the damage to the tissues behind the eye is reduced and the progression of diseases is slowed down.
2. High Diopter Reading Glasses
The first choice for those with low vision is binocular bifocal glasses. Distant glasses of this group of patients are prepared with two focus. As the addition of the close reading on the sub-dial increases, the close reading addition needs to be adjusted carefully by the doctor, as the patient needs to bring the text he read closer to his/her eye.
3. Magnifying Glasses
Reading area is narrow. It is easy to get used to. Especially shopping, etc. It provides convenience for the patient in cases. They are short-term solutions. The disadvantage is that one hand of the patient holds a magnifier. There are magnifiers at various magnification powers. As the magnification power increases, the patient must move the object closer to the eye.
4.Handheld Binoculars
Used for one eye. The patient focuses with his hand to see the opposite object. It is particularly useful for reading an oncoming bus sign, etc.
5.Telescopic Systems
It is based on the principle of enlarging and zooming the image. It is advantageous that far and near are in the same glasses. Gallile and Keppler System is used in telescopic glasses. The advantage of the telescopic system is that the distance to the text is extended during reading and there is no need to approach the text too much to read it.
After choosing the suitable telescopic glass for the long distance, the close reading cap in the magnification is selected to suit the patient’s vision and need for close reading. The patient is then trained to use telescopic glasses.
6.Bioptic Telescopes
It allows the patient to walk with telescopic glasses. Patients can walk with their glasses because of the way the telescopic system is mounted on the glasses.
7.CCTV (Closed Circuit Television Systems)
It consists of a fiberoptic system connected to the television screen with the receiver camera. 60 times linear electronic magnification can be done. It is used in the most severe vision loss.
What Does Telescopic Glasses Inspection Mean?
Telescopic glasses examination is an examination performed to increase the vision and quality of life of patients with low vision. The most appropriate solution should be chosen and the training should be given.
What are the differences between telescopic glasses and other glasses?
The lenses used in such glasses are designed especially for patients with low vision and they have the feature of magnifying and zooming the image. It is thicker and heavier than normal glasses in appearance.
Can Every Low Vision Patient Benefit From Telescopic Glasses?
The need for low-vision aids begins when the visual acuity is approximately 0.3 below and usually does not benefit at the level where the visual acuity is below 0.03 (finger counting from two meters).
Telescopic glasses examination should be done by an ophthalmologist who has been trained in this subject, in a full-fledged eye clinic.
