If you’ve never heard of bioptic telescopic glasses before, you’re not alone—but for people with low vision, they can be life-changing. These specialized glasses help people with everyday tasks like driving, reading overhead menus, or even just recognizing faces across the street. Think of bioptics (as they are often called) as tiny binoculars for your eyes. Let’s walk through what these lenses are, who might benefit from these glasses, how they are fitted and adjusted, and how we train people to use bioptics.
What are Bioptic Telescopic Glasses?
Bioptic telescopic glasses are designed to help people with low vision see more clearly at a distance. Featuring small telescopes mounted on the top of the glasses, this eyewear allows a person to look through regular glasses most of the time, but with a dip of the chin and a forward head tilt, use the telescopes as needed to see farther away. Bioptic glasses can greatly increase independence, and in some states, may even help people meet vision requirements for driving.
Who Might Benefit from Bioptics?
These lenses can help individuals with low vision—those who are unable to achieve 20/20 sight even with correction; common conditions may include macular degeneration, albinism, Stargardt disease, or optic nerve disorders.
Good candidates for bioptics are those with stable, non-progressive vision loss who still have some usable vision.
How Bioptics Are Fitted
The process to get fitted for bioptic glasses begins with a comprehensive low vision evaluation. This isn’t your typical eye exam—the low vision doctor assesses your remaining sight and, as related to your vision goals, recommends specialized eyewear solutions to regain functional vision.
Fitting bioptic telescopic glasses requires a little more than just “eyeballing” it (pun intended). The lenses must be:
- Centered on the interpupillary distance (PD)
- Sit just above the wearer’s line-of-sight
- Be tilted to the proper degree so that when the head is tilted forward, the user is looking directly through the center of the telescope.
If the telescope is mounted too low, the person ends up tilting their head back too far just to look through it. If it’s too high, you may never catch the telescope at all. This is what we adjust for during a fitting—the telescope should be easy to access but stay out of the way for day-to-day vision.
How to Use Bioptic Telescopic Glasses
After we get a proper fit, we walk through how to actually use the glasses. Bioptics take a little time to build comfort and confidence. Here is what training generally looks like:
- We begin with the patient sitting stationary and focusing on objects at various distances around the room, all in a distraction-free environment.
- Next, we get comfortable with moving objects. The user learns to read signs or recognize faces while moving around indoors or targeting moving objects outdoors.
- Finally, we work on how to use the glasses in a dynamic environment. This includes viewing objects from a moving vehicle—first as a passenger, and then as a driver (if permitted).
It takes time to adjust to switching between the telescope and your regular lenses, but we equip you with the training to use the bioptics safely and effectively.
Bioptics and Driving
For many people with low vision, one of the activities they miss most is driving. You might wonder if bioptic telescopic glasses could make driving possible again—and in some cases, they can. Many states permit the use of bioptics with certain requirements and restrictions.
In Indiana, where Midwest Low Vision is located, individuals with low vision may be permitted to drive using bioptic telescopic glasses if they meet certain visual and functional requirements outlined by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. These include minimum standards for visual acuity, visual field, and color recognition, as well as limits on the magnification power of the telescope used.
Drivers must first be evaluated and receive certification from a low vision specialist. From here, the person will be referred to a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) and to the BMV’s Driver Ability Department who may:
- Request additional documentation
- Impose limitations or endorsements on the license
- Require updates at 12- or 24-month intervals
- Suspend or revoke driving privileges, if necessary
For those who qualify, being able to drive again can make everyday life more convenient. It can help with getting to work, staying connected with others, and maintaining independence.
Conclusion
Bioptic telescopic glasses offer more than just magnification. From recognizing faces across the street to potentially returning to driving, this eyewear can help improve quality of life for people with low vision. If you would like to learn more about bioptic telescopic glasses for yourself or your patients, contact us today.