Dust, mold, smoke, and pet dander can also cause allergic reactions in the eye.

If you have any concerns regarding wearing contacts lenses with allergies, contact your nearest eye doctor to find answers to all your questions.

SEE RELATED: Eye Allergies and Contact Lenses

Here are some commonly asked questions of eye doctors regarding allergies and contact lenses.

#1 I have allergies, can I still wear contact lenses?

Yes, you may find daily disposables are more comfortable.

Since contact lenses attract airborne allergens, if you wear the same pair for a month, they accumulate a month’s worth of allergens and debris. Whereas disposable daily lenses are worn for just one day, giving allergens less time to accumulate.

#2 If I have allergies, how often should I clean my contact lenses?

Cleaning your contact lenses often will help keep them clean of allergens. Use preservative-free solutions because some people develop allergies to preservatives.

#3 My allergies cause dry eyes. What should I do?

Keep your eyes moist with artificial tears. They will help keep your eyes from drying out, which  causes additional discomfort. Use only preservative-free eye drops; otherwise, you may experience an adverse reaction to the preservatives.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can advise which drops are best for you and how frequently to apply them.

#4 If I have eye allergies, can I still wear makeup?

Use hypoallergenic creams and cosmetics to decrease allergic reactions, especially if you apply them around your eyes.

Moisture particles from sweat and tears can bring the cosmetics that you place around your eyse into contact with the eye’s surface.

#5 If I have an allergy attack, can I still wear my contacts?

During an allergy reaction, it is recommended to refrain entirely from wearing contact lenses if your eyes are itchy, red, and swollen from an allergy.

#6 Should I take anti-allergy medications to reduce my symptoms?

While anti-allergy medications (antihistamines) reduce your allergy symptoms, they can cause dry eyes, which can exacerbate your symptoms.

If you have any known allergies, inform your eye doctor at the time of your eye exam, so they can recommend lenses that are more suited to your sensitive eyes, which products to use and how to care for your lenses.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near who can help you choose the best contact lenses for your eyes and lifestyle.

The post Allergies and Contact Lenses: Part 2 Q appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Eye herpes, also known as herpes keratitis, is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

There are two major types of the virus; Type I and Type II. While both types of herpes can spread to the eye and cause infection, Type I is by far the most frequent cause of eye infections. It is rare to transfer Type II to the eye.

Here are commonly asked questions about eye herpes.

#1 Is this condition serious? 

Yes. Eye herpes is a serious infection of your cornea, possibly causing life-long blindness.

Once treated, eye herpes usually lasts 1-3 weeks, sometimes even longer.

Treatment normally lasts two weeks, and you should see results within five days.

#2 What are common symptoms of eye herpes?

At the first sign of an outbreak, contact your doctor to begin treatment as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of vision loss.

Common symptoms of herpes keratitis may include:

• Blurred vision
• Discharge
• Pain
• Rash
• Redness
• Sensitivity to light
• Tearing

If the infection only involves the cornea’s outer layer, it will usually heal without scarring. However, if it involves the deeper layers of cornea, the infection may lead to scarring of the cornea, loss of vision and sometimes even blindness.

Left untreated, eye herpes can cause severe and permanent vision loss.

If you suffer with persistent red eyes, it is vital to contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat eye herpes with the appropriate medication.

SEE RELATED: Corneal Ulcers

#3 How often do flare-ups recur? 

20% of people who’ve had eye herpes will have another outbreak within a year of the initial infection.

While several factors contribute to a recurrence, if you experience multiple flare-ups, your doctor may recommend taking a daily antiviral medication for prevention.

#4 What causes flare-ups?

Major stressors can often lead to a bout of eye herpes. These include:

• Fever
• Trauma
• Emotional distress
• Excessive sunlight exposure (UV rays)
• Refractive surgery (LASIK, etc.)
• Major surgical or dental procedures

A weakened immune system can also put you at increased risk of an eye herpes flare-up, and potentially lead to an outbreak.

#5 How is eye herpes treated?

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, general health, and the severity of the outbreak. .

Possible treatments may include:

• Antibiotic drops for your eyes (to prevent further infection by bacteria)
• Antibiotic ointment for your eyelids (to prevent infection by bacteria)
• Antiviral drops for your eyes
• Antiviral ointment for your eyelids
• Antiviral medicines taken by mouth
• Steroid drops for your eyes (to reduce inflammation)

While most of these treatments are fairly short-term, you may also need to take antiviral oral medicine on a long-term basis. This is to help prevent future flare-ups. Some complications of eye herpes may require additional treatment.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat your eye herpes.

The post Eyes and Herpes: Q&A appeared first on Optometrists.org.

The most common type of eye herpes is called epithelial keratitis, which tends to infect the cornea, causing redness, inflammation, excessive tearing of the eye, and eventually affecting your visual clarity.

Left untreated, eye herpes can cause scarring and corneal ulcers, which may lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness.

What is eye herpes?

Eye herpes, also known as ocular herpes, is a potentially serious infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), the same virus that causes cold sores around the lips and mouth.

Eye herpes is typically contracted by touching a cold sore and then touching the eyes with contaminated fingers. Once contracted, the virus stays in the body for life.

Many people with eye herpes are unaware that they have it because it can lie dormant in the nervous system for years without causing any symptoms. It’s not unusual for HSV to reactivate months or even years after it was first contracted. Flare-ups can resolve after 2-3 weeks, though the infection can reappear, even after 10 years.

Oftentimes, eye herpes is confused with other types of pink eye, such as bacterial or other viral eye infections.

If you suffer with persistent red eyes, it is vital to contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat eye herpes with the appropriate medication.

SEE RELATED: Eyes and Herpes: Q&A

How does eye herpes affect the eyes?

Many parts of the eye can be affected by eye herpes, including:

• Cornea – the clear layer on the front of your eye
• Conjunctiva – the tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera
• Sclera – the white part of your eye
• Eyelids – specifically the lid margins
• Retina – the light-sensing sheet of cells in the back of your eye
• Iris – the colored part of your eye

What are the symptoms of eye herpes?

Eye herpes is associated with various signs and symptoms, including:

• Blisters or rash on the eyelids
• Persistent sore, red or pink eyes
• Eye discomfort and irritation
• Headache and lethargy
• Reduced or blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Excessive tearing
• Watery eye discharge

While eye herpes usually affects only one eye, it’s not uncommon for both eyes to be infected.

If you suspect you have eye herpes, contact an eye doctor near you who can help prevent further complications.

How to reduce the risk of eye herpes?

Although there is no way to totally prevent an eye herpes infection, or any other form of eye infection for that matter, the following measures will reduce your risk.

• Keep your eyes and hands clean
• Avoid touching your eyes if you have a herpes outbreak
• Seek medical treatment for any form of herpes as soon as possible
• If you wear contact lenses, be sure to follow your eye doctor’s instructions on contact lens care.

While there’s no ultimate cure for eye herpes, certain treatments can help control future outbreaks and prevent vision loss.

Early diagnosis and treatment of eye herpes can help avoid severe and life-long eye damage and significantly improve your symptoms.

Treatment usually includes antiviral medication, which can be eye drops, ointment, or oral medication.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

If you’re experiencing symptoms of eye herpes, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you.

The post How Does Herpes Affect the Eyes? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Contact lenses are a great choice for people who want convenience and clear vision. But now you have to decide between monthlies and dailies. While choosing may be easy for some, others find it a difficult choice to make, and like many other aspects of life, price is an important considerations

The newer design or materials provide added eye health benefits, but can be more expensive.

Learn more about the two types of lenses, to help you make an informed decision.

1. Daily lenses

Daily contact lenses are single-use lenses that you remove at the end of the day and discard. They’re usually designed to have a high water content and be very thin.

Daily contact lenses are designed to be used once and then discarded, so they require very little upkeep.

It’s crucial to understand that leaving daily lenses on your eyes overnight could cause corneal damage and eye infections.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can help you decide which contact lenses best meet you and your eyes’ needs.

SEE RELATED: The Contact Lens Exam

2. Monthly Lenses

Monthly contact lenses must be replaced on a monthly basis, and usually on a particular date, according to the eye doctor’s instructions. They are more durable than daily lenses since they are made of a thicker material.

Monthly lenses are even more resistant to drying out, but you must clean them according to the instructions to ensure your wearing comfort and eye health.

Before you’ll need to switch to a new pair, monthly contact lenses can be worn for about 30 days.

Another good thing about monthlies is that there are certain brands of monthly lenses, called ‘extended wear’ contact lenses, that are FDA approved for overnight or even full-time wear for the entire month.

Although these lenses are safe to wear overnight, the longer you wear contacts, the greater the risk of complications, including infection.

Is there a cost difference?

As a general guide daily lenses are more expensive than monthly lenses, especially if you are wearing lenses 4 or more days a week.

Daily lenses work out to be under or close to $1 per lens, expect to pay $25 – $40 for a box of 30, and $55 to $90 for a box of 90 lenses.

Monthly contact lenses are usually $3-4 per lens, expect to pay around $30 to $40 for a box of 6 lenses.

As you can imagine, wearing daily lenses is usually more expensive than monthly lenses, however there are a few considerations;

1. Frequency of wear:

If the daily lenses are only worn 3-4 times per week then the overall cost is virtually the same as monthly lenses.

2. Storage and cleaning solutions:

With monthly lenses, it is important to add the cost of your contact lens solutions to the overall calculation.

3. Damaged or lost lenses:

The cost per lens of the monthly lenses are more expensive, so if you are prone to damaging or loosing lenses, then daily might be cost effective

There are plenty of choices for both monthly and daily contact lenses, regardless of the kind you select. You should always discuss all the pros and cons of each type with your eye doctor.

LEARN MORE:  Optical and Contact Lenses

Contact an eye doctor near you who can help you decide which ones best meet you and your eyes’ needs.

The post Contact Lenses: Daily or Monthly? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

It’s easy to fall asleep in your contact lenses; one minute you’re reading a book or watching TV, and the next you’re fast asleep.

In some cases, a person can wake up with their lenses on and just blink any discomfort away.

Sleeping with contact lenses make you up to 8 times more likely to experience a contact lens-related eye infection, such as damage to your cornea.

Contact an eye doctor near you to learn more about contact lens safety.

SEE RELATED: Contact Lenses: What Can Go Wrong?

Does sleeping in contacts increase the risk of infection?

Yes. Corneas need oxygen to remain healthy, but they receive their oxygen directly from the air and do not receive oxygen from the lungs. The flow of oxygen and nutrients keeps the cornea clear, balanced, and functioning properly.

During the day, open eyes allow oxygen to reach the cornea directly through the tear film.

When a person sleeps with contact lenses overnight, the contact forms a barrier between the cornea and the tears, limiting the amount of oxygen delivered to the cornea at night. This is known as ‘corneal hypoxia’.

Even though a person’s eyes are closed when they sleep, different parts of the eye, such as the aqueous humor and tears, provide only limited oxygen and nutrients to the corneas.

A lack of oxygen may potentially cause these corneal problems;

• Keratitis: inflammation of the cornea
• Conjunctivitis: inflammation of the conjunctiva
• Corneal neovascularization: the influx of new blood vessels into the cornea

In serious but rare cases, dozing off in contact lenses — particularly repeatedly — can cause vision loss due to corneal scarring, necessitating the use of medicated eye drops or even surgery.

What to do if you sleep with your contacts?

As soon as you wake up, remove your contacts and don’t insert them again for at least one day, to give your corneas some air.

Be sure not to tug at the lens, as sleeping in contacts can make the lens harder to remove from your eye and it could tear.

Apply a few drops of artificial tears before removing the lenses as that will help loosen them from your eye.

If you find yourself sleeping in your contact lenses on a regular basis it could impact your eye health to the point that you may not be able to wear the lenses for many days or even weeks.

LEARN MORE:  Optical and Contact Lenses

If you notice any symptoms like redness, eye discharge, very watery eyes or blurred vision after a night of wearing your lenses or at any other time, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you.

The post Is Sleeping in Contact Lenses Dangerous? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Pink eye is the most common eye problem among children, causing sore and painful eyes.

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva — the clear membrane that covers the inner portion of the eyelids and the white of the eye. This condition can be successfully treated by optometrists.

Common symptoms of pink eye include:

• Blurred vision
• Eyes feel scratchy
• Crustiness around the lashes
• Discharge from the eyes
• Itchiness and grittiness
• Light sensitivity
• Red, swollen eyes and eyelids
• Watery eyes

Pink eye is typically caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants. If a bacteria or virus is the cause of your child’s pink eye, then it’s highly contagious.

SEE RELATED: Unequal Pupil Sizes (Anisocoria)

If your child has any of the above symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you.

4 things to do for pink eye:

1. Contact an eye doctor

It’s often difficult for parents to tell what’s causing their child’s symptoms, which is why it’s important for an eye doctor to examine the child’s eyes.

The treatment for pink eye is determined by the type of infection, so a proper diagnosis is crucial.

For example, viral conjunctivitis can resolve on its own after several days, whereas bacterial conjunctivitis requires treatment with antibiotic medication.

If your child is showing signs of pink eye, contact an eye doctor near you for an eye exam.

2. Change Your child’s bed sheets and towels

To get rid of any bacteria that might remain on their towels, pillowcases, and bed sheets, throw all of them in the washer and dryer.

This reduces the chances of the child being infected again and infecting other family members. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling potentially infected linens.

3. Encourage personal hygiene

Since viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are so infectious, good hygiene is vital  to prevent it from spreading. If your child is young, teach them how to wash their hands properly with soap and water and when to do so.

As long as a child has viral or bacterial pink eyes they should avoid wearing contact lenses in order to prevent their eyes from becoming infected. Wear glasses until your child’s eyes are fully healed.

4. Make your child feel comfortable 

If your child has viral conjunctivitis, the primary treatment is often simply easing your child’s symptoms.

To reduce irritation use soothing eye drops. A warm or cool compress placed over the child’s affected eye can also be helpful. Be sure to use a fresh washcloth each time, and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.

Warm compresses are great for viral and bacterial pink eye, while cool compresses work best for pink eye caused by allergies and irritants.

Contact an eye doctor near you, who will instruct you on how to care for your child’s condition and ease any discomfort.

4 ways to protect yourself

There are a number of things that can be done to protect yourself and other family members from becoming infected and spreading pink eye.

• Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes. By rubbing or touching your eyes when you have a pink eye, it can spread to the other eye or worsen the condition.

• Wash your hands thoroughly. Make sure that you and your children wash hands using soap and water. This is especially important after touching someone with pink eyes or any of their personal items.

• Don’t share personal items, such as towels, bedding, eye drops, glasses, contact lenses and containers, and makeup.

• If you wear contacts, stop wearing them until your eye doctor says it’s okay. Then throw out the current lenses and use a fresh pair when your eye doctor says it’s safe to start wearing lenses again.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you to have your child’s pink eye diagnosed and treated.

The post Pink Eye: What Do I Do? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

While pediatric eye emergencies can be alarming, being prepared can make all the difference. Knowing what to do if a child has an eye emergency gives parents and caregivers peace of mind and increases a child’s chances of achieving the most optimal treatment results.

When it comes to pediatric eye care, remaining calm and seeking immediate medical attention is vital for both you and your child.

Every year, over 125,000 children in the US receive urgent medical care by emergency eye doctors.

Here are the five most common types of pediatric eye emergencies, and tips on how to manage them.

1. Acute conjunctivitis 

This severe type of pink eye, formally called pediatric acute bacterial conjunctivitis, affects about 1 in 8 children every year. Acute conjunctivitis typically affects preschool children, toddlers and babies.

A child with this very contagious infection may experience eye discharge, itchiness and redness, usually in both eyes. Along with these eye symptoms, about 39% of children will also have a severe ear infection.

Treatment involves either oral or topical antibiotic medication, or in severe cases, both.

If your child shows any signs of acute conjunctivitis, contact an eye doctor near you for immediate treatment.

2. Blunt eye trauma

Blunt eye trauma can cause internal bleeding within the eye called hyphema. In severe cases, the extra blood within the eye can cause elevated inner eye pressure and lead to permanent vision loss. It usually happens during rough play or sports.

Typical symptoms after being struck in the eye include:

• Redness and swelling
• Eye drainage
• Eye pain that won’t go away
• Vision changes
• Visible abnormalities of the affected eye
• Visible bleeding in the white of the eye (sclera)

If your child has any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical care.

If you suspect your child has an eye injury, urgently contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: What to Do for a Black Eye

3. Chemical exposure to the eye

A variety of household cleaning products  can damage a child’s eyes and result in an eye care emergency. To protect your child’s eyes, keep these things locked away and out of reach.

If a child’s eye is exposed to a chemical, look for a phone number on the product’s label to dial in the event of an emergency or contact your nearest pediatric emergency eye care department.

Immediately after the incident: Hold your child’s eye open for about 20 minutes while you flush the eye area with clean water or saline drops. If both eyes have been exposed, place your child in the shower and have them face the water so it goes into their eyes.

4. Cuts or scrapes to the eye

Particles of dust, sand, wood shavings and other tiny objects can get into a child’s eye and cause a scratch on the surface of the eye, called a corneal abrasion.

Corneal abrasions may cause:

• Vision problems
• Stinging
• Burning
• Light sensitivity
• Red eyes
• Swollen eyes
• Grittiness
• Watery eyes

If you suspect that your child has a corneal abrasion, immediately contact an eye doctor near you for treatment.

Corneal abrasions are typically treated with eye drops, medicated ointments, and sometimes pain relievers.

To get the object or particle out of the child’s eye, rinse the affected eye with saline solution or clean tap water. They can also blink several times to try and flush out whatever is scratching the eye. Avoid rubbing the eye, as that can make almost any eye condition worse.

5. Foreign objects stuck in the eye

If your child is complaining that something is stuck in their eye, the first thing to do is to tell them not to rub their eyes. Visually inspect their eyes and see if you find anything. If a foreign object is on the sclera, the white part of the eye, try flushing the eye with saline solution or clean water.

If it looks like something is lodged in the eye or has penetrated the eyeball, do not try and remove it. Seek pediatric eye care immediately.

When it comes to pediatric eye emergencies, remaining calm is important for both you and your child.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Children’s Eye Exams

If your child has had an eye emergency, immediately contact an eye doctor near you who can help with eye emergencies and other eye care services.

While pediatric eye emergencies can be alarming, being prepared can make all the difference. Knowing what to do if a child has an eye emergency gives parents and caregivers peace of mind.

When it comes to pediatric eye care emergencies, remaining calm and seeking immediate medical care is vital for both you and your child.

The post Top 5 Pediatric Eye Emergencies appeared first on Optometrists.org.

This blog will briefly discuss five possible causes of a headache and blurred vision, as when to treat these as a medical emergency.

Important Note: This blog is not to be considered as medical advice, we recommend seeking appropriate medical attention at all times.

Medical Emergencies

Some of the possible medical conditions that can cause simultaneous headache and blurred vision include:

1. Low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia can cause headaches and blurred vision when the brain is starved of glucose, which is its primary fuel source.

Blood sugar levels naturally rise and fall throughout the day and in between meals.

If someone’s blood sugar levels get too low, typically less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), they become hypoglycemic.

Without treatment, hypoglycemia can cause permanent damage .

2. Stroke

Strokes are responsible for 1 out of every 20 deaths.

A stroke can occur when a blood clot blocks a vessel carrying blood to the brain. This is called an ischemic stroke. Less commonly, a stroke may happen when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, which is called a hemorrhagic stroke.

3. Traumatic brain injury

People with moderate to severe TBI need emergency care and may require surgery to prevent further damage to their brain tissues.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that interferes with normal brain functioning. A jolt, bump, hit, blow, or penetrating object causes most TBIs.

A concussion is one type of TBI that occurs as a result of a blow to the head.

People with mild TBI often experience a headache and blurred vision.

4. Carbon monoxide poisoning

More than 20,000 people in the U.S are admitted to the emergency department for accidental exposure to carbon monoxide every year.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas present in the fumes that burning fuel creates.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes a variety of symptoms as it deprives the body and brain of oxygen. A headache and vision problems, such as blurred vision, are common signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Emergency healthcare teams may give people with severe carbon monoxide poisoning 100 percent oxygen through a tube they put directly into the individual’s airway.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience headaches, together with suddenly blurred vision, contact your family physician or seek emergency medical care urgently.

The optimum results are achieved if the underlying medical condition is treated as soon as possible.

The post When is Blurred Vision a Medical Emergency? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Ocular albinism affects the eyes, causing dramatic loss of visual function and impact on the quality of life.

What is albinism?

Albinism is a genetic disorder that results in the body’s inability to produce melanin, a dark pigment that protects a person’s tissues from ultraviolet radiation (UV) and gives the eyes, skin, and hair their color.

The most common form of ocular albinism is Type 1 or Nettleship-Falls.

Ocular albinism primarily affects the eyes, by reducing the pigmentation in the eye, which is essential for normal vision. In most cases it causes mild to moderate central vision impairment.

While individuals with albinism retain some vision, many may be legally blind.

While there is no cure for the condition, glasses, contacts and low vision aids and devices can help by maximizing a patient’s remaining vision, allowing them to experience a much higher quality of life.

Contact an eye doctor experienced in low vision who can help understand your condition and show you the many options to allow you to enjoy your vision.

SEE RELATED: Top Home Tips for Low Vision

What is ocular albinism?

Ocular albinism is a genetic disorder in which the eyes are deficient in the amount of melanin, which gives the eye its color or pigment. For those born with this condition, any vision loss present at birth doesn’t worsen over time.

What are the signs and symptoms of ocular albinism?

Because of the lack of pigmentation in the eyes, individuals with ocular albinism will experience:

• Iris of the eyes appear pinkish or very light color
• Extreme light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Involuntary rapid eye movements (nystagmus)
• Mild to moderate central vision loss
• Poor binocular vision (strabismus)
• Reduced depth perception
• Head tilt

Low vision aids for ocular albinism

There are many types of low vision aids and low vision glasses to improve the lives of those with ocular albinism.

Since each aid assists with different tasks, a person with low vision will benefit from multiple low vision glasses and devices.

While people with ocular albinism experience central vision loss, they have excellent side vision. Therefore, they respond well to low vision glasses and devices, particularly bioptic telescope and microscope lenses.

These lenses may allow the patient to see objects at a distance, read words on a board or street sign, watch TV and recognize people’s faces.

In severe cases, telescopes/bioptic lenses, magnifiers, microscopes, and closed circuit television systems may be prescribed.

Other ways to treat ocular albinism

While there is no cure for albinism, there are different ways symptoms of the disease can be addressed:

• A comprehensive low vision exam, along with optical and non-optical low vision devices, electronic magnifiers, and vision rehabilitation services
• Absorptive sunglasses or special contact lenses with a colored component to reduce light sensitivity
• Glasses or contact lenses to address refractive errors
• Glasses with prisms to decrease nystagmus and treat strabismus
• Surgery to reduce nystagmus or strabismus

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Low Vision

Schedule a low vision eye evaluation with an eye doctor near you who can provide the most appropriate adaptive devices to help you see better.

The post Albinism and Low Vision appeared first on Optometrists.org.

For people with a visual impairment, reading is often one of the most difficult challenges. Many people with low stop reading altogether, because what used to be an effortless and enjoyable activity now requires preparation and a lot of adjustment.

There are many low vision devices that can make reading easier and more rewarding for people with macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, tunnel vision and other low vision conditions.

If you experience low vision, contact an eye doctor near you who can prescribe  a low vision device to help you read without difficulty.

SEE RELATED: Top 10 Tips for Improving Low Vision at Home

Below you will find a list of low vision magnifiers, aids, devices, and strategies that can help people with low vision read more easily and comfortably.

Low Vision Devices for Reading

1. Reading Magnifier

The most commonly used visual aid is a hand-held magnifier, for reading.  

In the correct power, magnifiers allow people with low vision to reading labels, oven dials, and the text on medicine bottles. There are different kinds of magnifiers, including small pocket magnifiers, full-page illuminated magnifiers, and magnifiers that are mounted on adjustable stands.

Ask your low vision optometrist which device and power will best allow you to read what is most important for you.

2. Video Magnifier

While traditional optical magnifiers, such as magnifying glasses, are generally helpful, some people benefit more from a video magnifier.

A video magnifier, or closed-circuit television (CCTV), has a camera that transmits magnified images (up to 50x or higher) and displays them on a large monitor or TV screen.

3. Portable Electronic Magnifiers

A portable electronic magnifier resembles an iPad or tablet. By holding this device in front of reading material, you can view the magnified version on its LED screen.

4. High-Power Reading Glasses

Strong magnifying reading eyeglasses enable a person with severe visual impairment to read fine print.

5. Tele-Microscopic Glasses

Tele-microscopic lenses are mounted on top of eyeglass lenses and may be prescribed for one or both eyes. They allow people with low vision to read, write, use a computer, and perform other tasks at a comfortable distance.

Certain low vision devices require a prescription from an eye doctor as they are custom-made for a patients specific needs.

Contact an eye doctor near you, who will help determine which vision devices and aids are best for your needs and level of vision impairment.

More strategies to help your reading

1. Increase Contrast

It’s important to ensure a sharp contrast between the text being read and its background.

For example, newspapers don’t offer much contrast because the grey letters sit on an off-white background.

Many electronic screens allow a person to tailor the contrast to their needs, such as black lettering on a white background or black lettering on a yellow background.

2. Increase Lighting

Increasing the amount and type of lighting can greatly improve reading ability in those with low vision.

3. Large Print Books or Larger Fonts

Large print books include larger fonts, more spacing and better contrast, making it easier and more enjoyable to read.

4. Adjust Settings on your smart phone

Smart phones have various settings specifically designed for low vision. These range from large fonts to read-aloud SMS messaging.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Low Vision

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you for more advice on reading with low vision and to learn about what low vision aids and devices would be best for you.

The post Reading Tips For People With Low Vision appeared first on Optometrists.org.