Optical Devices for Distance Viewing

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated October 17, 2025
Distance low vision devices help individuals with low vision access information beyond 10 feet, such as signs, whiteboards, scoreboards, and more. These tools may also support orientation and mobility (O&M) and, in some cases, driving. A Low Vision Specialist evaluates and prescribes the appropriate tool based on each student’s unique vision profile and goals.

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)

Binoculars

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.
hand held monocular
hand held monocular

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
binoculars
binoculars

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
Spectacle-Mounted Telescopes
Spectacle-Mounted Telescopes

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
Bioptic Telescopes
Bioptic Telescopes

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.

Subscribe today!

Subscribe today to unlock premium resources & printables. Choose the subscription level that best fits your needs and get immediate access to additional printable resources, ECC tools, and more. Subscription plans are individual and non-transferable. Your membership helps sustain and grow this resource for the vision community. ​​Thank you for your support!

Article Pages

VI Basics
History of VI ​Vision Professionals​ ​Professional Publications ​​Program Tools & Templates ​Policy & Advocacy ​​Professional Support AT Resources​
Service Planning
VI Referrals​ ​Medical Vision Exam ​Visual DiagnosisFVLMALow Vision EvaluationsOther Evaluations​Service PlansGoals & Objectives
Consultation
​Unique Visual Needs
​Collaboration​​Instructional Adaptations​Environmental Adaptations​​Material Adaptations​Access ClassesFamily Resources
Teaching Strategies
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development​Alternative Communication​Emergent Literacy​Beginning Braille​​Braille Code​Braille Fluency & Comprehension​Braillewriter​​​​​Slate & Stylus Basics *S
​​​Nemeth Code Instruction *S
​​​Tactile Graphics​Print Concepts​​Abacus ​​Organize​​​Study Skills​​Time Management
Sensory Efficiency
​Auditory Efficiency​​​​​Listening Skills​​Visual Efficiency Skills​​Optical Device Use​Tactile Readiness
Assistive Technology
AT Assessment ​AT Instruction​
AT Basic Use ​​AT Problem Solving ​Braille Notetaker ​iOS/Tablet Instruction Audio Skills ​Video Magnifiers ​​Basic Computer Use Access Productivity
Social Skills
​Non-Verbal Skills​​​​​CommunicateCooperativeIdentity & Self-Awareness​Interactions & RelationshipsManaging Challenges & Safety
Self-Determination
Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene  ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation​Household SkillsClothing Management​Money & BudgetShopping & ConsumerismPhone Use​Safety & Emergency Preparedness​​Services & Community Resources
Orientation & Mobility
Recreation & Leisure Skills
Career & Vocational
Interactive Activities
Recorded Presentations
Lesson Planning 
Thematic Units
Beginning of the Year Units ​​Fall Units​​Winter Units​​Spring UnitsHoliday Units
Printable Resources
**Additionally, each Teach Subscription page and each Thematic Unit contains additional unique printables!
*M = free member pages
*S = Basic subscription pages
*CS = Complete set bonus
*A = All Access subscription pages