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- What is a CCTV Magnifier? How
Does It Work?
- How do I
know if a CCTV Magnifier will work for me?
- Can I get a CCTV Magnifier through medicaid or medicare?
-
I stopped looking for answers to my problems years ago. I was led to believe that nothing more could be done. Now you've shown me something very useful and I'm convinced that my life is going to get better. How can this be?
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I have macular degeneration. My doctor told me that I would never go totally blind, but my vision seems to be getting worse. What might I expect of my quality of life in the future?
The following information is
available courtesy of The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health,
& The US Department of Health and Human Services.
- What
is low vision?
- Is losing
vision just part of getting older?
-
How do I know if I have low vision?
- How do
I know when to get an eye exam?
-
What can I do if I have low vision?
- Jane's
Story
- Jim's Story
-
Crystal's Story
- Mike's
Story
-
Where can I get more information?
- What can I do
about my low vision?
-
Questions to ask your eye care professional.
- Glossary of Vision Related
Terms
In the simplest of terms, a Closed
Circuit Television, or CCTV, uses a camera and a screen or monitor to magnify
images and text. A CCTV will magnify small print that you find on
newspapers, pill bottles, food items, and will also magnify photos,
three-dimensional objects and more. A CCTV can magnify images up to 70
times their original size, making even the smallest items easy to see.
Technically speaking, a CCTV operates
much like a video camera. A camera looks down to a table approximately 5
inches below. Place what you want to view on the table, and the camera
captures the image and displays it on the TV/Monitor or SVGA Monitor above.
The difference between a normal video
camera and a CCTV is in what you can do once the image is on screen. A
CCTV will allow you to:
- Resize: Simple zoom controls allow
you to zoom in and out to make your image as large or small as you need.
- Focus: Easy manual focus
knobs make it simple to focus the material on screen at your comfort level.
Manual focus knobs are on every unit, even our auto focus systems.
- Reverse Contrast: An easy to pull
knob changes the color of your text and background. Black text on white
background, or white text on black background for high contrast needs.
- Change Colors: For optimal
viewing, you can add optional select-a-color, which is a multi-color mode that
will change the background and text color. There are up to 24 different
color combinations in this mode.
A CCTV magnifies printed material onto
a monitor. The type of monitor, type of camera, and focus capabilities all
affect how great the magnification will be. From our experience,
individuals with various vision conditions, who have some sight left, generally
can use a CCTV to help them in their every day reading and writing. We
know many individuals whose vision is 20/400 or
worse, and they are able to effectively use a CCTV video magnifier daily.
If you are worried you will buy a CCTV and not be able to use it, take note of our Two Week Trial Period. If you try one of our CCTV models and decide it is not right for you, you may send it back for a full refund, minus shipping charges. You may also trade it during this two week period for another model if you find that you think there is another one that suits you better.
To our knowledge, most personal
insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare do not currently cover the cost
of CCTV video magnifiers for people with low vision. If cost is an issue,
you may want to check in your local community and with state rehabilitation
facilities to find out about programs that may be available to you.
We certainly don't have all the answers, but understand that the work we
do is different from what your eye doctors do. Perhaps you might be more receptive to what we
offer now, because you've stopped looking to get your vision back.
This tool makes you accountable for your own rehabilitation. You see that there are options.
You agree to accept them as alternatives to dependency despite their limitations.
We can exceed your expectations because you thought nothing more could be done. Our approach
is to help you function better in a practical way. Discovering alternatives makes it easier to
accept limitations because now you have options you didn't know you had. Things don't need to
be as bad as they were, or could be in the future, when you know what needs to be done, and
you're given the tools to do the job. The tools enable you. Those with limited vision need not
be of limited vision!
Your situation is not uncommon. Unfortunately your eye care practitioner either didn't know to
make a referral, or wasn't prepared to provide the necessary services. If you want your eye
care practitioner to know how necessary these services are then tell him or her just how much
they have meant to you. This will make it better for everyone who is having problems with their
vision. Over time more and more eye care practitioners will better manage the vision of those
whose eyesight is less than perfect.
From our experience, the fullest progression of macular degeneration will usually leave a person
with approximately 20/400 vision (if no other conditions exist). Even though this is a rather
severe condition, it need not necessarily devastate your quality of life. The key to coping
with this limited vision is adaptability. Many people who live with this type of vision are
capable, when they develop alternatives, of maintaining their own households, holding down
jobs, going shopping, reading, watching television, seeing people's faces, sightseeing and
much more. However, people who live with this type of vision without seeking alternatives are
not as capable of doing all these things. Basically those who pursue rehabilitation through
vision aid services are capable of maintaining their quality of life. Unfortunately, many such
persons, probably 75 percent, give up before they find the kind of help they need.
Low vision means that even with regular glasses,
contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, people find everyday tasks difficult to
do. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, seeing the TV, and writing can
seem challenging.
Millions of Americans lose some of their vision
every year. Irreversible vision loss is most common among people over age
65.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
No.
Some normal changes in our eyes and vision occur
as we get older. However, these changes usually don't lead to low vision.
Most people develop low vision because of eye diseases and health conditions
like macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, and diabetes. A few people
develop vision loss after eye injuries from birth defects. While vision
that's lost usually cannot be restored, many people can make the most of the
vision they have.
Your eye care professional can tell the
difference between normal changes in the aging eye and those caused by eye
diseases.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
There are many signs that can signal vision loss.
For example, even with your regular glasses, do you have difficulty:
- Recognizing faces of friends and relatives?
- Doing things that require you to see well up
close, like reading, cooking, sewing, or fixing things around the house?
- Picking out and matching the color of your
clothes?
- Doing things at work or home because lights
seem dimmer than they used to?
- Reading street and bus signs or the names of
stores?
Vision changes like these could be early warning
signs of eye disease. Usually, the earlier your problem is diagnosed, the
better the chance of successful treatment and keeping your remaining vision.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Regular dilated eye exams should be part of your routine health care.
However, if you believe your vision has recently changed, you should see your
eye care professional as soon as possible.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Many people with low
vision are taking charge. They want more information about devices and
services that can help them keep their independence. Its important to talk
with your eye care professional about your vision problems. Even though it
may be difficult, ask for help. Find out where you can get more
information about services and devices that can help you.
Keep in mind that many people require
more than one visual device. They may need magnifying lenses for close up
viewing, and telescopic lenses for seeing in the distance. Some people may
need to learn how to get around in their neighborhoods.
If your eye care professional says,
"Nothing more can be done for your vision," ask about vision rehabilitation.
These programs offer a wide range of services, such as low vision evaluations
and special training to use visual and adaptive devices. They also offer
guidance for modifying your home as well as group support from others with low
vision.
Investigate and Learn... Be
persistent. Remember that you are your best health advocate.
Investigate and learn as much as you can, especially if you have been told that
you may lose more vision. It is important that you ask questions about
vision rehabilitation and get answers. Many resources are available to
help you. Write down questions to ask your doctor, or take a tape recorder
with you. Rehabilitation programs, devices, and technology can help you
adapt to vision loss. They may help you keep doing many of the things you
did before.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Jane is slowly losing her
"straight-ahead" vision, which allows her to read and recognize faces. She
has age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that affects central
vision. While Jane's eye care professional has reassured her that she will
not lose her vision completely, she is frustrated because she does not see as
well as before.
Jane thought that nothing she did
would help. Then, her eye care professional suggested that she see a
specialist in low vision. A specialist in low vision is an optometrist or
ophthalmologist who is trained to evaluate vision. This person can prescribe
visual devices, and teach people how to use them.
There are a wide variety of devices
that help people make the most of their remaining vision. The specialist
recommended special magnifying devices for Jane that helped her see things more
clearly. Jane also went to a vision rehabilitation program that taught her
new ways of doing tasks. Someone from the program came to Jane's home to
see what changes could be made. She also learned about helpful devices,
such as talking clocks that tell the time with a press of a button. Large
print books and publications made it easier to read and allowed Mane to keep
enjoying one of her favorite activities.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Jim has lost a lot of his
side vision because of glaucoma. He found it difficult to do his job.
He made some changes to his office so he could work better. A talking
computer keeps him up-to-date on sales figures. Writing was very difficult
until he used better lighting. A vision rehabilitation teacher showed Jim
how to use a writing guide to help write clear notes and employee memos.
Learning to get around safely from an orientation and mobility specialist helped
him travel independently.
He also joined a support group to talk
about the challenges, frustrations, fears, and unhappiness that can come from
living with low vision. At first, he felt that his vision loss would keep
him from doing the things he liked to do. In the end, he found that wasn't
quite true.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Crystal lost some vision
because of diabetes. Rather than limit her activities, she chose to look
at them as challenges. Crystal met with a vision rehabilitation
professional. She received training on how to use certain low vision aids.
As a result, Crystal made several changes to her home and simplified her life.
First, raised markings were applied to
most common settings on her microwave dial. This allowed her to more
safely adjust the oven. Better lighting in her stairways, closets, and
home workshop made it safer to move about. A magnifier for reading food
labels made controlling her diet easy. Special checks with large print and
raised markings simplified paying bills. A special needle allowed her to
continue sewing, one of her favorite activities. For Crystal, the result was
increased safety, more freedom, and restored confidence.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Mike also has low vision
because of age-related macular degeneration. But he has found ways to
adapt to his vision loss. Mike's doctor referred him to a vision
rehabilitation program. As a result of his evaluation, Mike uses a closed
circuit television at home. It enlarges the print in letters, bills,
newspapers, and magazines. He uses a telescopic lens for getting around
his neighborhood. A hand-held magnifier helps him read his mail in his
favorite chair and menus at restaurants. Mike has learned to adapt, and
low vision has not stopped him from enjoying life.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
For more information
about low vision, contact your state or local rehabilitation agency for the
blind and visually impaired.
Although many people
maintain good vision throughout their lifetimes, people over the age of 65 are
at increased risk of developing low vision. You and your eye care
professional or specialist in low vision need to work in partnership to achieve
what is best for you. An important part of this relationship is good
communication. Read on below to look at some questions to ask your eye
care professional to get the discussion started.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
- What changes can I expect in my
vision?
- Will my vision loss get worse? How
much of my vision will I lose?
- Will regular eyeglasses improve my
vision?
- What medical/surgical treatments
are available for my condition?
- What can I do to protect or prolong
my vision?
- Will diet, exercise, or other
lifestyle changes help?
- If my vision can't be corrected,
can you refer me to a specialist in low vision?
- Where can I get a low vision
examination and evaluation? Where can I get vision rehabilitation?
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
- How can I continue my normal,
routine activities?
- Are there resources to help me in
my job?
- Will any special devices help me
with daily activities like reading, sewing, cooking, or fixing things around
the house?
- What training and services are
available to help me live better and more safely with low vision?
- Where can I find individual or
group support to cope with my vision loss?
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
(AMD): An eye disease that results in a loss of central,
"straight-ahead" vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older
Americans.
Cataract: A clouding of
the lens. People with cataracts see through a haze. In a usually
safe and successful surgery, the cloudy lens can be replaced with a plastic
lens.
Diabetes: A chronic
disease related to high blood sugar that may lead to vision loss
Eye Care Professional: An
optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Glaucoma: An eye disease,
related to high pressure inside the eye, that damages the optic nerve and leads
to vision loss. Glaucoma affects peripheral, or side vision.
Low Vision: A visual
impairment, not corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or
surgery, that interferes with the ability to perform everyday activities.
Ophthalmologist: A
medical doctor who diagnoses and treats all diseases and disorders of the eye,
and can prescribe glasses and contact lenses.
Optician: A trained
professional who grinds, fits, and dispenses glasses by prescription from an
optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Optometrist: A primary
care provider who prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and diagnoses and
treats certain conditions and diseases of the eye.
Orientation and Mobility
Specialist: A person who trains people with low vision to move about
safely in the home and travel by themselves.
Specialists in Low Vision:
An ophthalmologist or optometrist who specializes in the evaluation of low
vision. This person can prescribe visual devices and teach people how to
use them.
Vision Rehabilitation Teacher:
A person who trains people with low vision to use optical and non-optical
devices, adaptive techniques, and community resources.
Visual and Adaptive Devices:
Prescription and non-prescription devices that help people with low vision
enhance their remaining vision. Some examples include magnifiers, large
print books, check-writing guides, white canes, and telescopic lenses.
Courtesy of
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, & The US Department
of Health and Human Services.
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