Magnifiers & Assistive Devices

With so many sizes, shapes, powers, focal lengths, and illumination, it’s important to ask your low vision optometrist or ophthalmologist to evaluate your vision and prescribe the best magnification system for your eyes. Many people struggle because they are using the wrong magnifiers for their vision, and then assume that all magnifiers won’t help their vision!

Different Types of Vision Loss Result from Different Eye Diseases

There are special devices, magnifiers, lights, and filters to help eyes with macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other conditions. New technology is available to give a person with visual impairment independence and enhanced quality of life.

Wearable Assistive Technology

OrCam is an intuitive wearable device with a smart camera designed to assist people who are visually impaired. OrCam gives independence and enhances quality of life. It’s a powerful low vision tool when all other options are exhausted.

OrCam is a smart camera mounted on your eye glasses and process visual input in real time. Orcam reads text on signs, books and your phone instantly. You can enter products you use everyday and it will recognize and read aloud what it is you are looking at. It even recognizes faces and announces people you know.

Low Vision Rehabilitation Includes:

  • Solutions to living more independently with loss of detail vision

  • A thorough review of previous ocular surgical and medical records

  • Calculating the amount of magnification needed to read and write

  • Measuring the refractive power to see faces, TV, and signs

  • Evaluating the best magnifiers for home, restaurants, and paperwork

  • Identifying the most comfortable and effective light for reading to control glare

  • Comparing optical and digital magnification for best function

  • Connecting to other professional rehab providers for special needs such as mobility, grief support, and occupational training

  • Prescribing strong reading glasses to see better up close

  • Education and answers about eye health and vision function

Functional Vision is a person’s ability to integrate the components of vision to effectively accomplish a life task, such as reading, writing, self-care, cooking, and getting around.

During a functional visual assessment, the doctor identifies how a person uses their vision to accomplish a task. It is more than just measuring the smallest line a person can read off of an acuity chart, or recording a map of a person’s field of vision. Functional vision is the way a person uses their vision to live and thrive.

Low Vision Examinations are currently offered by Dr. Christina Petrou at two Milwaukee area locations: for more information, call Petrou Eye Care in Glendale at 414-247-2020.

Questions to ask your eye care professional about low vision:

  • 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?

  • 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?

  • 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?