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.

​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.

​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.

​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.

​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.

​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).

​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.

​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