News from the AOA's Blog

Precision Vision announced a new line of low vision aids. The products in the Precision Vision low vision aids catalog, which includes handheld, stand and spectacle-mounted devices, were selected for their outstanding quality and performance after almost three years of research and are currently available exclusively to eye care professionals across the United States and many other countries.

“Each and every week, eye care professionals evaluate patients who suffer from degenerative eye diseases. This is a new day for those who need help. We’re proud to bring to the market new premium low-vision aids that will dramatically improve a patient’s quality of life, offering them hope where none existed previously,” said Ed Kopidlansky, president of Precision Vision. “The same care and commitment to excellence that we place into each vision testing chart we manufacture is equally matched in each of the new low-vision aids in our collection.”

The different types of low vision aids offered by Precision Vision include:

• Handheld illuminated magnifiers (more than 10 available)
• Stand-illuminated magnifiers (more than 10 available)
• Handheld telescopes (a dozen available)
• Bar and dome magnifiers (currently four from which to choose)
• Handheld telescopes (more than 15 currently available)
• Spectacle-mounted telescopes (infinite number of combinations easily assembled in a practitioner’s office)
• BINO prismatic spectacles (available in 10 different options)
• MultiLens medical filters (available in multiple colors that can be edged into the patient’s own frame)

In a 2008 worldwide study sponsored by Pfizer and the World Glaucoma Association, twice as many people were afraid of going blind as compared to those who were afraid of a premature death or heart disease.

According to the study, the reality of the situation is that very few people who have a degenerative eye disease actually go completely blind. While they may lose sight in the central area of their vision, proper training, lighting and magnification can return some of their independence, and this is what makes low vision aids and solutions important.

“True, there have been other products on the market to assist patients with low vision, but until now, none have been designed with the attention to detail and customized features that are essential to providing an exceptional low-vision aid,” said Kopidlansky. “For example, one of the most overlooked components of an illuminated magnifier is the source of the illumination, as this is just as important as the quality and magnification of the lens. The advantage of Precision Vision’s low vision product line is that each item was specifically chosen for its high quality and functionality, allowing an eye care professional to customize each solution based on an individual patient’s unique needs.”

The Schweizer line of German-made magnifiers carried by Precision Vision is available in three different illumination levels.

While having multiple illumination levels is not new, Schweizer is, however, the first manufacturer to precisely calibrate each illumination level and print the level of intensity on the handle so that an eye care professional knows exactly what to expect.

Other product enhancements include long battery life and easy battery changing without any removable parts to become lost. This is very important for all low vision patients, especially those with hand tremor.

The MultiLens line is exclusively available to prescribing eye care professions through Precision Vision and is known for its accessibility and ease of dispensing for eye care professionals.

According to Kopidlansky, eye care professionals can continue to offer their patients the best eye care possible: by easily illustrating the value and striking advantage of these new low-vision products to their patients, and by prescribing them as an effective solution.

For more information, call 800-772-9211 or visit www.precision-vision.com.