A visual impairment is defined as an impairment of sight which cannot be adequately corrected with pharmaceutical or surgical interventions, conventional prescription eyewear, or contact lenses. The individual may have a loss of visual acuity, loss of visual field, increased light sensitivity, distortion, loss of color vision, or loss of contrast. This creates difficulty with reading, writing, watching TV, and performing activities of daily living which leads to a loss of independence.

The Western New York Center for the Visually Impaired uses a team approach to the rehabilitation of visual impairments such as Macular Degeneration. The team includes optometrist, opticians, and vision rehabilitations specialist who help the individual adapt to their vision loss. After reviewing your goals and following a low vision evaluation, the doctor may recommend any of the following:

• Low vision devices: magnifiers, closed circuit televisions, telescopes
   
• Non-optical adaptive devices: large print checks, large button telephones, large print address books, talking watches, talking clocks, low vision kitchen equipment
   
• Training with a rehabilitative specialist

Low Vision Devices more info...