Existing solutions
Guiding
To guide a Stargardt-patient, dogs are sometimes recommended. This is mostly used in day to day life navigation. In more specific situations like in a professional context or even when practicing sports, also human guidance is of great help. With a human guide it is even possible for a patient to go skiing, and with an assistant they can also fulfill complete functions in a medical context.
Magnification
Magnification can be applied in different ways, either virtually or physically. Many Stargardt patients utilize magnifying features on their digital devices to aid in reading. Apart from digital solutions, lenses and digital magnifiers are commonly used. These tools can be customized for individual users by selecting specific lens types and deciding whether the device should be worn or held.
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When wearing a magnification device, it's crucial to maximize the user's remaining vision. This can be achieved by directing light to areas of the eye unaffected by the disease.
Two popular solutions for maximizing usable vision are prism-based eyeglasses and bioptic telescopic glasses.
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Prism-based eyeglasses use prisms inside the lenses to focus light onto specific areas of the eye, improving peripheral vision.
Bioptic telescopic glasses incorporate small telescopes into the lenses, allowing users to read or even drive. These glasses enhance vision in specific areas by adding extra lenses to the glasses.
Digital tools
These days there are several digital tools to help visually impaired people to read or see things better on their laptop or phone. Window has for example a loop function that can zoom in on your screen. Windows, android, and IOS all have a speak function that can turn text into audio. This can all be personalized by changing the language, vocice, and speed.