Common Uses for Distance Devices

  • Reading whiteboards, smart boards, and classroom charts
  • Viewing restaurant menus, grocery aisle signs, and directories
  • Identifying bus numbers, building signs, and street signs
  • Watching theater, sports, or film presentations
  • Locating house numbers or landmarks during O&M
  • Driving (with specific prescription devices)

Hand-Held Monoculars

  • Power: Up to 14x
  • Use: Spot viewing of distant information (e.g., whiteboards, signs, menus)
  • Pros:
    • Small, portable (fits in pocket)
    • Can be used in school and community settings
    • Great for quick spotting tasks
  • Cons:
    • Narrow field of view
    • Occupies one hand
    • Fatiguing for note-taking due to constant gaze shifting
Tip: Students should be encouraged to bring monoculars to assemblies, games, and field trips.

Binoculars

  • Use: Short-term distance viewing when both eyes can fuse images
  • Pros:
    • Easier to locate and follow targets
    • Wider field of view than monoculars
  • Cons:
    • Bulky and conspicuous
    • Heavier and less portable than monoculars
    • Occupies two hands

Spectacle-Mounted Telescopes

  • Magnification: Up to 8x
  • Use: Stationary tasks like reading sheet music or watching TV
  • Pros:
    • Hands-free
    • Convenient for seated activities
  • Cons:
    • Very narrow field of view
    • Not suitable for walking or general travel
    • Should not be used for mobility tasks

Bioptic Telescopes

  • Use: Functional distance viewing while walking or driving
  • Features:
    • Mounted above the normal line of sight on glasses
    • May have auto-focus, making viewing easier at various distances
  • Pros:
    • Allows mobility while providing magnified view
    • Approved in some states for driving with low vision
  • Cons:
    • Requires extensive training
    • Use may be limited by state driving laws and safety considerations

Important Considerations

  • Prescribed use is specific to each student and task.
  • Field of view and power level are trade-offs—higher magnification reduces field.
  • Training and practice are essential to ensure effective use.
  • These devices should be part of the student's Learning Media Assessment (LMA) and support both academic and functional vision goals.

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