Prismatic
Magnifying Readers (PMRs) and Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs) treat
macular degeneration and other vision loss conditions (low vision). Dr. Randolph Kinkade, a Connecticut
optometrist and founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision
Specialists, understands how to maximize eyesight when there has been permanent
vision loss.
Low vision can make daily activities such as reading the
newspaper, writing a check or driving the car difficult or impossible. With low vision, the vision loss cannot be
corrected completely with regular glasses, surgery or medication.
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of low
vision. However, other eye conditions
such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve disease, eye injuries and
birth defects can lead to permanent vision loss. This vision loss can be mild to severe.
Low vision means people have to change how they do things. Special low vision glasses (high-power and
telescopic), large print, video magnification and special software are devices
to help with vision loss.
“Magnification is the key to low vision treatment”, said
Dr. Kinkade. “Magnification in the form of glasses, rather than having to hold
a magnifier, is the ideal goal for low vision rehabilitation”.
There are limits to how much effective magnification a
regular pair of glasses can deliver. The
more magnification that is required to read, the closer the reading material
must be held to the glasses.
Prismatic Magnifying Readers describe glasses coined by Dr. Kinkade. They offer increased magnification while allowing both eyes to work
better together for additional enhancement.
The vision needs to be relatively equal in both eyes for PMRs to be most
beneficial. These glasses reduce the eye
strain and fatigued often accompanied when reading material must be held
close. Holding reading material close
allows for the extra magnification.
Spectacle Miniature Telescopes (SMTs), also a term coined buy Dr. Kinkade, offer magnification at a more normal
reading distance. SMTs use 2-3 lenses in
combination to provide the power and increased viewing distance. They can be fit for one or both eyes. They can be helpful for seeing playing cards
on the table, reading piano music, or painting. They can also be useful for
distance magnification for seeing faces, television, and road signs.
“Due to laws of optics and physics and the anatomy of the
eye, as magnification increases the field of view decreases”, said Dr. Kinkade. “When the field of view deceases, less of the
page can be seen at a time. This means
that the patient must learn to scan more across a line of print when reading”.
Proper and enhanced illumination is the other major
assistive treatment for low vision.
“High magnification and better illumination is often
the difference between reading and not being able to read with low vision” said
Dr. Kinkade.
About Dr. Randolph Kinkade
Dr. Kinkade is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry Low Vision Section and a member of the Vision Rehabilitation Section of the American Optometric Association.
Dr. Kinkade has a master of public health degree (MPH) from the University of Connecticut where he concentrated his studies on the prevalence and treatment of low vision.
He has offices throughout Connecticut: Cheshire, Danbury, Farmington, Litchfield, Manchester, Norwalk and Waterford.
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