4 English
Safety instructions
FDanger of fire.
Lenses used in optical equipment may cause considerable damage through
their Ę"burning glass effect" if used or stored incorrectly. Ensure that optical
lenses are never left uncovered in the sunlight.
FMake sure that other people and especially children are aware of this.
FDanger of blinding or injury.
Never look at the sun through any optical equipment.
FProtect magnifying vision aids against jolts or impact and excessive heat!
Never place magnifying vision aids on heating elements or in the sun!
FMagnifying vision aids are only suitable for reading and may not be used for
driving!
FThe safety and care instructions listed must be explained to the user by the
fitter!
Magnifying vision aids
The term magnifying vision aid refers to all optical and electronic aids which assist a viĆ
sually impaired individual in seeing better through the use of his remaining visual acuity.
This already includes reading glasses with improved addition, simple hand magnifying
glasses, illuminated magnifying glasses or telescope magnifying systems of Kepler or
Galileo designs which contribute to improved vision.
The market even offers optical and electronic visual aids for the severely visually impaired
who have a remaining visual acuity of less than 10%. Of course, not every visual problem
can be solved or every desired acuity obtained. Generally, magnifying visual aids can be
fitted such that the daily work of the visually impaired individual within his household enviĆ
ronment can be performed without assistance from others. This restores more quality of life
to the visually impaired individual.
Consultation with an ophthalmologist is indispensable for providing visually impaired indiviĆ
duals with magnifying visual aids.
Definition of visual impairment
and its significance for the affected individual
An eye suffers from blunt vision Ć amblyopia Ć, if nothing approaching normal visual acuity
can be achieved even with full correction (visual acuity below 0.4). A visual impairment is
always a pathological change in the eye or an inner change resulting from an injury which
must be treated by an ophthalmologist. A decision regarding whether a magnifying vision
aid will even provide an improvement in vision can already be made to some extent after
diagnosis by a doctor. Frequently, a visually impaired individual goes directly to an optician
without a diagnosis; in this case, an ophthalmologist must be consulted at least during the
phase of the final decision. Without a doubt, the fitting of magnifying vision aids is signifiĆ
cantly more difficult than the fitting of normal corrective lenses, but can certainly be accomĆ
plished through the selection of the correct method and the correct means (system or
magnifying glass). The fitting of magnifying vision aids places high demands on the work of
the ophthalmologist and optician.
