The Optical Vision Site

Low Vision Filters By Dave Dean- Cocoons Eyewear

Dave Dean from Live Eyewear (Cocoons Eyewear)

Live Eyewear (Cocoons Eyewear) sent us this blurb about low vision filters. If you are like me, we think of low vision products such as magnifiers, readers and telescopes. Never would I have considered a Tint as a low vision aid- filter. So I emailed Dave with some questions and here is his response:

1) What is a Low Vision Aid Filter/Tint?

• Low Vision absorptive filters are specially developed tints designed to enhance vision for those that experience low visual acuity due to light sensitivity and/or inadequate levels of contrast.  The inability of the eyes to deliver the appropriate level of contrast can often make reading, driving and other daily activities difficult.  Low Vision filters help to manage the transmission levels of various lightwaves, which helps to improve the vision of those with various low vision conditions.  For instance, by filtering out 100% of the blue light that reaches the eyes, low vision patients can achieve a greater level of contrast, which improves object definition.  Live Eyewear’s Cocoons Low Vision absorptive filters are available in four specific tints, Boysenberry, Lemon, Orange, and Hazelnut, and are proven to increase visual acuity when used in conjunction with various visual impairments caused by eye diseases such as Glaucoma or Age Related Macular Degeneration.

2) What tints are best for Low Vision Aids?

• Each low vision absorptive filter is designed with the goal of transmitting a specific range or percentage of lightwaves.  The most common absorptive filter tints currently on the market are various shades of orange, amber, yellow, plum and smoke.   In many cases, more than one filter may be required per case in order to meet the needs of changing light conditions and activities.    In each instance when we are contacted by a low vision patient, Live Eyewear strongly recommends that they consult their eyecare professional or physician when determining the low vision absorptive filter that will best suit their particular eye condition or visual impairment.

3) Why did Live Eyewear (Cocoons) Go After the Low Vision Market?

• Cocoons OveRx polarized sunglasses have set the standard in optical quality eyewear designed to be worn over prescription glasses.  The brand is associated with the highest grade optical components, performance and our independent eye care authorized dealer base has developed a deep trust in our service and product quality.  Live Eyewear noted the increasing need for optical quality low vision aids that met the expectations of the ECP community as many of our customers began to focus more on expanding their low vision services.  The maturing Baby Boomer segment is driving an increase in the percentage of the population that is afflicted by low vision impairments and ECPs are gearing up to meet their patients’ needs.  Due to the fact that many low vision candidates wear ophthalmic eyewear, it was a natural fit to provide low vision filters in our already very popular OveRx eyewear frames.  For details on the Cocoons Low Vision absorptive filter collection, visit http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/sunwear/category.php?id=53

4)  What is the market and marketing potential for the eyecare professional?

• About 135 million people around the world have been diagnosed with low vision. That is a number we can’t ignore.  We experienced an overwhelmingly positive response when we launched our Cocoons Low Vision collection in 2008 and have expanded our offering with the 2010 release of the Cocoons SideKick collection which is a low vision flip-up designed to provide improved top and peripheral protection at a very value conscious price point.

5)  How Does the ECP market Tints as a Low Vision Aid?

• Not all ECP’s are low vision specialists.  Eyecare practitioners who specialize in low vision provide a thorough evaluation of the patient’s low vision impairment and then prescribe the absorptive filter that best meets the patient’s visual requirements.  It is an educational process and requires the ECP to have an in depth knowledge of the most common causes of low vision impairments and how the properties of each filter can provide improved visual acuity.  Due to the growing need for trained low vision specialists (and realization that Low Vision is an expanding market), there is an increasing number of low vision continuing education opportunities being offered at many of the industry meetings, such as the International Vision Expo and Conference that happens in New York in the Spring and Las Vegas in the Fall http://www.visionexpowest.com/en/Continuing-Education/.  ECPs interested in getting more information on Low Vision options and education can visit the Low Vision Division of the Vision Council at http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/ecp/content_7312.cfm

That was interesting information, and when I think about my brown Hoya lenses for foggy days, my mirrored lenses for really bright days and fashion tint statements, my grey lenses for general use, my Transitions Lenses and Shamir for computer,  it makes a lot of sense, all my lenses are used for various lighting and vision issues.

Now when my friends ask me about tints, I will be referring to tints not just for eye health and fashion, but as low vision filters. I like it!

Gardening Tips For Blind or Visually Impaired People

Container Gardening For Visually Impaired

One of the people we follow on Twitter is Vision Aware, a blog about resources and tips for Blind or Low Vision People. The site has useful information for visually impaired, caregivers and eyecare professionals. If you have a website or blog, you might consider putting their link up on your site for Visual Impairment Resources.

Coming into Spring and Summer, they had a great article on Gardening Tips for the Visually Impaired:

If I can’t see well enough to tell a weed from a cultivated plant, how can I garden?

Gardening can be a wonderful sensory experience. A number of simple tips can reduce the workload and increase your sensory pleasure:

Use Landscaping Fabric or Mulch

• Try using landscaping fabric, mulch, or even corrugated cardboard around plants and seedlings.
• Using these materials can reduce the need to weed and water as frequently.

Use Colorful and Tactual Borders

• Use commercial edging products, such as crushed stone, bricks, pavers, pieces of lumber, or fencing to mark where one area ends and another begins.
• Use planking, long boards, rocks, or bricks to mark off the outer edges of your garden or raised beds for easier location and separation from lawn or play areas.
• Paint your existing fencing or stones in contrasting colors, such as white or yellow, that will contrast with the green grass.
• Use textured and/or colorful materials, such as crushed white marble chips, natural wood chips, and crushed seashells.
• Old car tires can contain spreading plants like pumpkins and squash.

Read the full article here

Blind Photographers- Fantastic Images From The Visually Impaired.

If you want to be impressed and awed, check out The Blind Photographer Image site. The images are from blind or visually impaired photographers and cover a wide span of subjects going over a few years.

Blind Photographers

There is a blog on the site, you can visit them on Facebook as well. I am wowed by the creative expression the subject matter the abilities of those who are visually impaired to produce such work.

Camera For The Blind

When I saw this, I wondered why would a blind person take pictures? But why not? This camera is made for the blind to take photos. They too can share their memories with friends and families. To see how it works and more information go to  Nadeem Haidary.

Low Vision Patients Increasing

According to The Vision Council, the number of people experiencing low vision is increasing. Six million Americans experience low vision and another 20 million adults have some visual impairment. Adding low vision to your practice can provide you with two new sources of revenue – services and devices – that can lead to a significant return on investment. Adding low vision today could greatly expand your patient base.

To learn more, please contact the members of The Vision Council’s Low Vision Division shown below. You can also refer to our directory listing for low vision on www.opticalvisionresources.com.

COMPANY WEBSITE WORK PHONE

ABISEE www.abisee.com 800-681-5909

Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc www.artoptical.com 800-253-9364

Beecher Research, Inc. n/a 800-934-8765

CTP Coil, Inc. www.coil.co.uk 847-228-8818

Designs for Vision, Inc. www.designsforvision.com 800-345-4009

Dioptics Medical Products www.dioptics.com 800-959-9040

Enhanced Vision www.enhancedvision.com 800-440-9476

Eschenbach Optik of America www.eschenbach.com 800-487-5389

Fortifeye Vitamins www.fortifeye.com 866-503-9746

Lighthouse International www.lighthouse.org 800-821-0500

LowVision.com www.lowvision.com 800-826-4200

LS & S, LLC. www.LSSproducts.com 800-468-4789

Noir Medical Technologies, Inc. www.noirmedical.com 800-521-9746

Ocusource.com, LLC. www.ocusource.com 888-299-6657

Ocutech, Inc. www.ocutech.com 800-326-6460

Optelec www.optelec.com 800-826-4200

Vision Advantage International, Inc. www.visionadvantage.net 402-327-9274

Vision Technology, Inc. www.visiontechnology.com 800-560-7226

Walters Low Vision Optics www.walterslowvision.com 800-992-5837

Vision Aware- Excellent Self Help Resource Center For Vision Loss

Vision Aware- (who is following us on Twitter) is a wonderful resource for the visually impaired and for professionals who works with people who are blind or have low vision. The site has tons of good stuff from living, products, vendors, coping and families. I just read their post on Blind Bloggers- which are blogs by people who are blind or have low vision.

What to do with it- if you have a website or a blog- Place it on your links page. If you don’t have a website just print the page, put it in a plastic folder and put in the reception room. Excellent resource.

Blind Baseball or Beepball For The Visually Impaired

I have heard of the blind skiing and surfing but never blind baseball. The Stockton Stingrays is a blind and visually impaired  baseball team working with sighted volunteers to compete in an adaptive version of baseball.

Beep Baseball- is when all fielders and batters are blindfolded and players bat at beeping baseball and run toweard a buzzing base, scoring if they reach before a field gains full control of a ball. (see video) Pretty incredible.

Fashionable Blind Phone

Tactility Phone by Siwei Liu

One of our favorite sites is Yanko Design. They have done several pieces for the visually impaired. The latest is this fashionable blind phone. A clean look with a 3D braille Face. The hole at the bottom is to loop around your belt or purse or put some charms on.