Low vision is the third most common cause of functional impairment for Americans over 70. Traditional aids for low vision can be tiring to use or too large to carry around. Researchers have developed a new type of eyeglasses to help people with low vision.

Low Vision
Low vision (defined as 20/60 vision) is a type of vision impairment in which a person is unable to see clearly even with best correction from eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery or other type of medical therapy. Researchers estimate about 1.5 to 2 million people have low vision. It’s the third most common cause of functional impairment for Americans over 70. The loss of visual acuity can cause difficulty reading, performing many daily activities and sometimes working or driving.

There are many different causes of low vision. The four most common causes are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration is caused by a deterioration of light sensitive cells in the macula, or central area of the retina. Glaucoma is damage to the ocular nerve, usually caused by increased pressure within the eye. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels that nourish the retina.

Dealing with Low Vision
Jeffrey Sonsino, O.D., Optometrist with Vanderbilt Eye Institute in Nashville, TN says the leading complaint among people with low vision is the inability to read. Patients can often overcome the problem with any number of vision aids, like hand-held magnifiers, stand magnifiers, reading telescopes, and spectacle-mounted magnifying lenses. But Sonsino explains that smaller devices can be tiring to use because the hand must constantly move to pick up the print. Larger devices may help, but can be expensive and can’t be easily carried around. A bright reading lamp also helps, but isn’t portable.

Sonsino and his colleagues have developed a new type of eyeglasses to help people with low vision. The glasses combine the three factors needed for clearer reading: magnification to enlarge the image, prisms to keep the eyes straight and focused and LED lighting for bright illumination. The glasses are powered by rechargeable batteries and designed so that when the bows are opened, the light automatically turns on. In a clinical trial of a small number of patients, users reported an 89 percent improvement in their reading ability.

Sonsino is now working with a manufacturer to produce the glasses. The researchers say affordability is important and they would like to sell the glasses for a lower cost than a standard pair of bifocals. The eyeglasses are expected to be available later this year and will initially be sold online. For information, go to http://www.LowVisionReaders.com.

AUDIENCE INQUIRY
The low vision eyeglasses are expected to be available later this year and will initially be sold online. For information, go to http://www.LowVisionReaders.com.

For general information about low vision:
American Foundation for the Blind, http://www.afb.org
American Optometric Association, http://www.aoa.org
Lighthouse International, http://www.lighthouse.org
National Eye Institute, http://www.nei.nih.gov
Prevent Blindness America®, http://www.preventblindness.org

Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister

© 2010 Medstar Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved

 Subscribe RSS

  Bookmarks  Email This   Hits : 1010

Trackback ( 0 )
Trackback Link for This Article

Comments (0)

Your Comment

Name* Email* Website Title* UBBCode B i u Quote Code List List item Img URL Comment*   0 Characters Verify Code*    Notify me when new comment post on this article.  I have read and agree to Term and Agreement By submitting your comments ABC 36 we reserve the right, at our sole discretion, delete, or deny approval of your comments for any reason at any time without further notice. We do not rent, sell, or exchange your name, personal information, or email address to third-party companies for their marketing purposes. Please allow up to 24 hours for your post to be approved. Thanks from ABC 36 for your comment on our site wtvq.com