Optical Aids:
Optical Aids are vision aids that involve lenses. These include eyeglasses and contact lenses, as well as hand-held magnifiers, stand magnifiers, and telescopes. Optical aids are available in a wide range of powers-- from 2x to 12x, and are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Magnifiers are most often used for near vision tasks; telescopes are used for distance vision tasks.

Non-Optical Aids:
Many non-optical aids are not visual aids. They are enlarged versions of actual objects. Large print cards, telephones with big dark numbers, talking watches, and large print checks with raised lines are all examples of non-optical aids. During your evaluation, the doctor may recommend one or more non-optical aids, or may provide you with a catalog of this type of device to pursue on your own.

Electronic Aids:
For people who require higher degrees of magnification, electronic aids often offer many benefits over optical devices. A CCTV is an example of an electronic vision aid. CCTV's utilize a small camera to enlarge reading material and present it on a monitor. Although some electronic aids are quite expensive, there are others that are rather inexpensive, and are an affordable and practical option for many people.

As you work with low vision devices during your evaluation, you will see that there are advantages and disadvantages to each. It is important to understand that there may not be one vision aid that fills every single need you have. Just as a carpenter needs different tools for different jobs, a patient with low vision often requires different vision aids for different tasks.