Vision Aids:  Older Adult Perspectives

The Passavant explorers looked at a product called the Merlin Elite Pro, which enables individuals with low vision to read by listening or by viewing the text in color or in enhanced high contrast positive or negative modes.

San Francisco Explorers discuss the gadgets they use to see things better.

Saratoga Retirement members hear from Explorer Tsing, who first describes and then demonstrates a pair of Mighty Sight glasses with special lenses and embedded LED lights which she finds handy for reading.

Saratoga Retirement Community Explorers start an exploration of low vision problems and share some of the devices they use to improve visibility.

Explorer Shelley wants to live an active life, but is embarrassed when in a dimly lit club or restaurant and can't read the menu.

Explorer Larry reports on his Eye Reader iPhone app, describing how it turns on the phone's LED light and magnifies print or other subject matter (such as finding a splinter in his finger) using the phone's camera.

Explorer Harlean shows the group her Ruby HD handheld video magnifier, which she bought after finding that low power glass magnifiers were not sufficient to overcome her vision impairment, and which she likes.

Explorer Steve demonstrates an 'oldie-but-goodie' for people who need help reading small print.

One of our circle members brought along some illuminated reading glasses and gave us a demo. For situations like reading a menu in a dark corner of a restaurant. They looked elegant and seemed functional.