Bioptic telescopes are special eyeglasses designed for individuals with low vision that contain miniature telescopes. They are like miniature binoculars mounted onto eyeglasses. They can help individuals who have a visual impairment (low vision) see more clearly for a full range of visual activities– to help them see better far away, at midrange and even close-up.
Bioptic telescopes attach to regular eyeglasses and can be prescribed for one or both eyes. Just like binoculars, they make images larger and, as a result, easier to see. Bioptic lenses users often say that everything looks closer — which is exactly right; however, the benefit is that it enables the bioptic telescopic glasses user to see objects much further away. For example, if an individual can only see clearly up to five feet away, a 4x-power Ocutech bioptic telescope will let them see as far as 20 feet away!
Ocutech’s Bioptic telescopic glasses can help visually impaired individuals with the following conditions:
- Reduced central vision between 20/60 to 20/300 (6/18 to 6/90)
- Tunnel vision wider than five degrees in diameter
- Low vision from eye diseases or disorders, including:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration – involves damage to the macula causing blurry central vision making small print, fine detail and faces and TV difficult to see. There are two versions– dry and wet.
- Ocular Albinism – an eye condition that reduces the pigment in the eye (and skin) that causes a reduction in clear vision, light sensitivity, and is often accompanied by astgmatism, nystagmus, and sometimes a turned eye.
- Optic Atrophy – is due to loss of optic nerve fibers and causes a reduction of either central or peripheral vision.
- Nystagmus – an ocular condition that causes involuntary eye movement and is accompanied by reduced central vision.
- Retinitis Pigmentosa – a congenital, genetic disease affecting the retina that causes gradual decline in side vision, night vision and eventually visual acuity
- Stargardt’s Disease – a genetic retinal disorder that affects the macula gradually reducing central vision. It often occurs in younger individuals.
- Diabetic Retinopathy – Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina which can lead to hemorrhaging and swelling that can cause reduction in clear vision.
- Coloboma – a congenital eye condition where the ocular tissues do not develop normally.
- There are many other eye injuries and eye conditions that may result in low vision. Vision aids like Ocutech bioptic telescopes can offer individuals with visual impairments better vision, leading to greater opportunities and more engagement with their world.
Why Improve Distance Vision?
Distance vision is an important social sense that allows us to make eye contact, read body language, and feel connected to the world around us. Loss of distance vision impacts independence and can make one feel isolated and depressed. Studies have shown that reduced distance vision can significantly impact quality of life.
What Can Ocutech Bioptics Help Me Do?
Seeing at a distance
Ocutech Bioptics are especially helpful for viewing television, movies and theater, seeing faces, signs, blackboards in school, shopping, and traveling. Ocutech wearers have even used their bioptics to hike, golf, bowl, paint, fish, drive tractors and mow the lawn. Most states in the U.S. and some countries will license eligible visually impaired individuals to drive while using a bioptic telescope.
Seeing up close
Bioptics can also help you to see at near and mid-range distances. By using Ocutech’s Falcon Autofocus Bioptic – the world’s only self-focusing bioptic – or by focusing manually or using near-focus attachments for the SightScope, Ocutech bioptics can provide easy-to-use magnification to help you see board and card games, read the computer, play music, as well as many other activities.