Visual Aids
There are 37 million blind people in the world and a further 124 million classed as visually impaired. In the UK alone there are around one million registered blind and partially sighted people, and many more who although not registered, suffer from visual loss.
Most of these have some degree of vision, and may benefit from an LVA.
So what are Low Visual Aids? An LVA is any piece of equipment used by people with low vision to enhance their sight. These aids may be:
OPTICAL- eg magnifiers and telescopic devices.
NON-OPTICAL- eg. angle-poise lamps and typoscopes.
ELECTRONIC- specially adapted computers and CCTVs.
Designed to reduce glare and sensitivity, these lenses can often benefit people with cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. The lenses effectively filter out the short wavelength, high energy blue light that is responsible for causing discomfort to light-sensitive eyes. This attenuation of the light helps to reduce glare and increase contrast for improved vision.
These lenses are also photochromic, automatically darkening to give extra comfort and protection when outdoors, and then lighten indoors. They are particularly durable and scratch resistant as they are made of glass, and are available in five different filter levels:
CPF 450
A light yellow/orange coloured lens which can be used indoors for reading and television viewing and also helps with fluorescent lighting in stores, particularly useful in optic atrophy and albinism.
CPF 511
A medium range filter with moderate blue light protection but allowing longer wavelengths of lower energy light to pass through. Often helpful in cases of cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma and optic atrophy.
CPF 527
A slightly bolder orange colour that darkens to brown in sunlight, giving extra comfort and reduced glare in such conditions as diabetic retinopathy, photophobia and retinitis pigmentosa.
CPF 550
This deeper orange-red lens darkens to a deep brown outdoors and is beneficial in cases of intense light sensitivity and poor dark adaptation such as in retinitis pigmentosa and albinism.
CPF GlareCutter
Specifically for outdoor use giving extra comfort with minimal colour distortion when other tints fail.
Pinder’s Optometrists are one of the few optical practices in the North Notts area accredited to supply an LVA, at no cost to the client, from a specified selection of magnifiers. This will be supplied following a consultation with one of our qualified optometrists, where your requirements and capabilities will be discussed. You simply need to be registered with a GP in the North Notts area.
If you, or anyone you know would benefit from the scheme, then contact your nearest branch of Pinder’s Eyecare for advice.
