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How Can We Help?

Free Phone Consultation

The first step to determine how, or if we can help your particular case is to call an IALVS doctor in your area. The doctor will return your call within a few days and conduct a FREE telephone consultation to determine if you are a candidate for IALVS Low Vision Care. If you are a candidate, the doctor in your area will schedule you for a Low Vision Evaluation.

Low Vision Evaluation

Basically what we do is this:

• Find out the amount of vision the patient has.
• Find out the amount of vision needed to do the task desired.
• Figure out the best magnification device that allows the person to do the task.

We find out the amount of vision the patient has by performing a low vision evaluation. It is not anything like a regular eye exam:

• We use special charts and techniques to "draw out" any residual vision that may be "hiding" in the periphery.
• We recheck the regular eyeglass prescription to improve it if possible.
• We see how magnification affects the level of vision

We find out the amount of vision needed to do the task desired with very specific questions and demonstrations.

• We ask the patient to bring samples of print they want to see (racing charts, stock market pages, automobile repair manuals…).
• We ask the patient to bring samples of activities they do (needlework, spark plugs, bridge cards…).

We figure out the best magnification device that allows the person to do the task by having many unique demonstrators in the office.

The patient actually uses various magnification devices to do the actual task in the office. The patient actually chooses the best device for them.

We do not order any low vision device unless we prove that it works in the office first.

Low Vision Devices

Magnifying Eyeglasses combine a correction for the patient’s refractive error with the amount of magnification needed. How close the material must be held depends upon the amount of magnification. During the Low Vision Evaluation, we teach patients how to hold material at the proper distance for the magnifying lens prescribed.

Binoculars placed into eyeglass frames are called Telescopic Spectacles. They can be monocular (one eye) or binocular. The telescope can be placed in various positions depending on what the vision needs are:

	Full Diameter Telescopes These telescopes are especially suited for such distance tasks as watching T.V., going to the Theatre, sporting events, or spotting distance stock market quotations – anything that can be done while the patient is stationary.
	Bioptic Telescopes When the telescope is mounted on top, the user can switch between the regular lens and the magnified lens. In special cases, these can be used for DRIVING, to "zoom" in on signs or objects. Some people use them at concerts, plays, lectures and during church to see faces better. The "bi-optic" can be used for walking/mobility type activities.
	Spiral Galilean Telescopes The ability to focus these Telescopes without the need of reading caps provides a flexibility not previously available and allow the patient to focus from a near point of 12 inches to infinity.
	Spiral Expanded Field Telescopes (Keplerian Telescopes) give the patient maximum flexibility in its use.
	Politzer Full Diameter and Bioptic Telescopes This design will afford the patient's eye more room to roam through the viewing field thereby reducing eye strain.
	Politzer Micro Spiral Galilean Telescopes represent the next evolutionary step in the creation of more cosmetically appealing telescopes for the Low Vision patient. The front spiraling feature allows the patient to change the focal length from distant to near.  This of course, gives your patient sharper focus.
	Reading Telescopes are telescopic systems designed for occupation and reading distances. They allow an increased working distance from that which is found with a comparably-powered microscope (reading lens), while still maintaining an adequate magnification level. Students, electricians and office workers are just a few examples of the types of people who would benefit from this type of aid.
	Eagle Eye Telescopic Systems This Telescope is very helpful for patients who have eccentric vision in addition to patients who wish to have a more cosmetically acceptable unit than previously available.

Telescope Spectacles cost ranges from $1500 to $3000. The average cost is about $2500 which includes measuring, fitting, adjusting, and instruction in use.

Magnifiers are task specific. Handheld magnifiers are useful for seeing prices, labels, dials, phone books, reading mail, menus, and similar items. Stand magnifiers are useful when the hands are unsteady, for coin collecting, stamp collecting, reading a bill and writing a check. If you have a unique task that you wish to be able to perform, please let us help you find the correct magnifier.

Glare Control and Proper Illumination are two closely related and important factors in using residual vision. In the Low Vision Evaluation, we determine the most effective means of reducing glare for the patient and the proper amount and type of illumination required.

Filters of various colors and transmissions are used for glare control and to optimize vision under specific lighting conditions for specific tasks.

When strong illumination is required a gooseneck floor or table lamp is recommended. Bringing the light source closer is more effective than increasing the bulb strength. A 50 watt bulb at 12 inches from the page is much brighter than a 300 watt bulb 3 feet from the page and produces less heat.

Electronic Visual Aids make use of a zoom television camera to magnify your materials onto a television screen. There are different ways of doing this but all use the same principles. When you buy the system, you can have the camera positioned in a number of different ways, depending on your needs.