[Optical and non-optical aids for the vision-impaired older patient]

Increase of contrast and enlargement of retinal image may lead to an improvement of reading ability of the elderly visually handicapped patient. Pros and cons of available low visual aids are discussed based on the examination or 266 patients of over 60 years of age. High-power addition was sufficient in 27% of the patients. A hand-magnifier of standmagnifier, as well as a telescopic reading unit, or so-called 'prism-loupe' sufficed in 36% of cases. The closed circuit television ('television loupe') was advocated in 17% of cases. The immobility and relative high costs of this apparatus, however, was in a sense prohibitive for further extension of use of this unique instrument, devised for the highly visually handicapped patient. In 20 per cent of cases it was impossible to improve reading ability altogether.