Non-Optical Low Vision Devices

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 14, 2025

​Non-optical low vision tools do not magnify, but they enhance visual access to materials and tasks by improving contrast, lighting, positioning, or tracking. These tools range from low-tech to mid-tech and support students in accessing print and participating in everyday activities more effectively.

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​Contrast and Writing Tools

Bold Line Paper

• High contrast writing lines in various formats (writing, math, graph).
• Helps students write clearly and stay on the line.

Felt-Tip and 20/20 Pens

• Provide bold, smudge-free lines for note-taking and diagrams.
• Available in different widths and colors; black is typically preferred.

Graphite Pencils (Faber-Castell #8B)

• Provide dark lines, erase cleanly, and require light pressure.
• Useful when erasability is needed without sacrificing contrast.

Highlighting Pens

• Emphasize key text and help students locate information when scanning.
• Use different colors to visually organize your notes.

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​Reading & Tracking Aids

Reading Guides (Highlight Strips)

• Transparent strips with a colored window to help track a line of text.
• Available in yellow, pink, blue, red, and green—trial needed to determine best color.

Typoscopes

• Matte black cards with a small cut-out window to isolate one line or block of text.
• Reduce glare, assist with tracking, and minimize visual clutter.

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​Lighting and Visual Support

Task Lighting

• Directed lighting improves clarity of print and objects.
• Daylight or full-spectrum LED lamps reduce glare and eye fatigue.
• Example: Foldi LED Lamp—portable, glare-free, USB rechargeable or battery-operated.

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​Color and Contrast Enhancers

Acetate or Color Filters (Overlays)

• Transparent colored sheets are placed over print to improve contrast.
• Yellow is commonly effective, but others (blue, pink, green) should be trialed.

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​Positioning Supports

Book Stands & Slant Boards

• Bring materials closer to the eyes, aiding posture and reducing fatigue.
• Options include: commercial slant boards, 3-ring binders with shelf liner for grip, or DIY solutions.
• Look for collapsible and lightweight options for classroom portability (e.g., Therapro boards).

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​Technology Supports

Large Print Keyboards

• Feature enlarged, high-contrast letters for easier key location.
• May benefit students with cognitive or physical challenges who cannot learn touch typing.
• Note: Encourage touch typing whenever possible to build independent tech access skills.

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​Daily Living Aids

Low Vision Watches

• Watches with large, bold numbers or talking features support time management and independence.

Sensory Efficiency Skills

Auditory Readiness

• Respond to sounds that are loud, moderate, or soft
• Turn toward voice or noise
• Localize sound by pointing to sound source
• Move toward noise stimulus
• Attend to environmental sound
• Respond to auditory directions
• Locate stationary sound
• Track a moving sound target
• Identify and label environmental sounds
• Use sound to orient to environment

Visual Efficiency

• In dark room, maintain visual fix on lighted object
• Responds to visual item (light, face, object)
• Visually attend to highly motivating materials
• Return gaze to object when visual fix is broken
• Visually attend to familiar objects
• Visually attend to communication symbols
• Visually fix on educational or vocational items
• Visually shift gaze and focus on parallel materials
• Visually shift gaze and focus on non-parallel materials
• Visually track slow moving materials
• Visually scan from field of 3 to locate preferred toy
• Visually scan all choices (field of 3) before making choice
• Visually scan to locate requested item
• Identify both primary and secondary colors
• Move toward visual item
• Develop visual motor skills
• Develop visual discrimination skills
• Develop visual closure skills
• Develop visual sequencing skills
• Visual Association (classify, group, sort, match)
• Visual Memory (objects, color, pictures)

Optical Device Use

• Tolerate and wear prescribed glasses
• Proper care of prescribed glasses
• Proper use of prescribed near Optical Device
• Proper use of prescribed distance Optical Device
• Initiate use of prescribed optical device
• Anticipates need for and obtains device prior to activity
• Proper care of prescribed optical devices
• Position self for best viewing
• Spot (localize, focus, identify) isolated target
• Visually trace lines from left to right
• Trace variety of lines in all directions across planes
• Track moving object at close, medium and far distances
• Track/scan for reading
• Efficiently refocus monocular while tracing and tracking
• Use systematic scanning tech. while searching for target
• Copy symbols or words from distance targets
• Increased speed, stamina & proficiency w/ near tools
• Increased speed, stamina & proficiency w/ distance tools
• State purpose, power and range of focus
• Independently store and retrieve devices

Tactile Readiness

• Alert to tactile stimulation
• Tactually search near surface to locate objects
• Tactually search environment to locate objects
• Explore objects with one/two hands
• Manipulate objects with two hands
• Identify objects by touch
• Tactile discrimination between objects
• Use fingers independently
• Sort textures by touch
• Match textures by touch
• Recognize and identify textures
• Develop skillful hands