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Technologies for vision impairment
Published in John Ravenscroft, The Routledge Handbook of Visual Impairment, 2019
Lauren N. Ayton, Penelope J. Allen, Carla J. Abbott, Matthew A. Petoe
The same OCR technology has now become portable, with the introduction in 2014 of the Eye-Pal Ace (Freedom Scientific, Florida, USA) video magnifier. This device (Figure 25.6) is a hand-held digital camera that can take a detailed photo of a page of a book, enlarge the text and present it on the 10-inch LCD screen. If the user presses the appropriate button, the device will read the text aloud. According to the manufacturer, the Eye-Pal Ace can assist with everyday text reading, such as restaurant menus, forms and even the fine text of medicine bottle labels. The user has the option of connecting a braille display via USB, allowing automatic conversion of text to braille.
Interventions in the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Psychosocial Well-Being in Older Adults with Low Vision and Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review
Published in Occupational Therapy In Health Care, 2021
Callie Barber, Caroline Gould, Gio Guillermo, Julia Dupree, Meghan McLeer, Teal Benevides, Mallory Rosche
Moderate evidence from three RCT studies suggests that usual visual rehabilitation approaches plus specific added skill-based components do not improve mental health outcomes ( 1B-Gleeson et al., 2017; 2B-Jackson et al., 2017; 2B-Kaltenegger et al., 2019 ). The studies examined the effects of a low vision adaptive device video magnifier (Jackson et al., 2017); use of reading training (Kaltenegger et al., 2019); and use of the Alexander technique (Gleeson et al., 2017), all were implemented following a standard comprehensive exam and usual visual rehabilitation. A variety of outcomes, including quality of life and depression scores, were used for patients with central visual field loss (Jackson et al., 2017), dry age-related macular degeneration (Kaltenegger et al., 2019), and general visual impairment (Gleeson et al.,2017). Jackson et al. (2017) conducted a Level 2B RCT with a control group receiving vision rehabilitation (VR), and an intervention group receiving VR plus a video magnifier. Vision rehabilitation, provided to both groups, included consulting with participants about rehabilitation strategies, education on remaining visual function, and showing participants various optical devices to help with vision declines (Jackson et al., 2017). Vision rehabilitation also included referral to occupational therapy and trial of low-tech devices such as hand-held magnifiers, although participant use of these devices was not reported. Both groups (VR and VR + video magnification) improved in quality of life over the one-month period, but there were no significant differences between groups in well-being, suggesting that the video magnification did not result in statistically better well-being than usual vision rehabilitation.
An Evaluation of a Clinic-Based Low Vision Device Lending Library
Published in Occupational Therapy In Health Care, 2023
Noel C. Guidry, Laura K. Vogtle, Elizabeth A. Barstow, Katelyn W. Jordan
Rehabilitation with effective low vision device use produces optimal results and cost effectiveness over the long-term (Morse et al., 2010). The benefits of the lending library revealed in the program evaluation were numerous and included: improvements in function, promotion of therapy outcomes, time to trial the device and universal access. It also illuminated the specific needs of individuals with low vision and provided considerations for low vision professionals to promote optimal outcomes in video magnifier use.