Products specially designed for the challenges of Tunnel Vision
Disorders including Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Choroideremia, and late-stage glaucoma cause reductions in peripheral vision (tunnel vision) and also reduces the ability to see at night and in dimly lit locations. Our peripheral vision helps us to walk safely and to detect movement in our side vision. Individuals with reduced peripheral vision may bump into obstacles while walking and have difficulty locating items in their environment. This is particularly a challenge when navigating stairs and avoiding collisions with people.
Reversed telescopes (usually a 2.2x power) have traditionally been offered as an optical treatment option for the narrow field of view. The rationale for these reversed telescopes is that they reduce the image size by 50%, doubling the field of view diameter and allowing more visual information to be visible within the restricted visual field.
For instance, an individual with a 10-degree diameter field of view, when looking through a 2.2x reversed telescope (or 0.5x in field expansion terminology), will have the equivalent of a 20-degree field of view, a doubling of the visual field diameter.
Collaborate with your child's educator to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment that accommodates their visual abilities:
- Preferred Seating: Educators can allow your child to choose a seating location that suits their needs, and is away from windows or other bright light sources.
- Sun Protection: If sunglasses or a visor hat help improve their vision indoors, let them wear these aids inside.
- Handouts: Instead of requiring your child to copy everything from the board, their teacher can provide handouts with an appropriate print size.
- Extended Time: Your child may need extra time to complete tests and assignments that involve extensive reading and writing.
- Technology: Computers should be equipped with screen enlarging software to facilitate access to online and digital learning.
- Ergonomic Support: Provide a tilted writing/reading stand when close working distances or magnifiers are necessary.
- Text Size: Consult with your child’s low vision specialist to determine the text size for printed materials.
- Telescopic Assistance: Consider a monocular or bioptic telescope to enhance your child’s vision in the classroom.
- Class Education: Ask their teacher to arrange a class session to educate their classmates about visual disorders.
- Communication: Don’t assume your child will speak up if they can’t see something. Their educator should rather inquire to ensure they can engage with the materials presented.
Establishing your child’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and working with your child’s teachers will allow you to help create a nurturing learning environment that enables them to thrive academically and socially.
Ocutech's reversed telescopes called Field Expanders (FE) and Image Minifiers (IM) are specifically designed for the treatment of restricted visual fields. They provide a flat (undistorted) field of view, providing a much more natural visual perception for the user.
When traditional distance vision telescopes are reversed to produce image minification they also distort the image making it appear rounded and tilted (barrel distortion), which is especially noticeable when looking downward for walking. The distorted image can reduce the device’s benefit for safe mobility, a major goal of the device.
