Bioptics, also known as a bioptic in the singular, and sometimes more formally termed a bioptic telescope, is a term for a pair of

vision Vision, Visions, or The Vision may refer to: Perception Optical perception * Visual perception, the sense of sight * Visual system, the physical mechanism of eyesight * Computer vision, a field dealing with how computers can be made to gain un ...

-enhancement

lenses A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements''), ...

. They magnify between two and six times, and are used to improve distance vision for those with severely impaired eyesight, especially those with

albinism Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albino. Varied use and interpretation of the term ...

. They can either be a combination of head-mounted

eyeglasses Glasses, also known as eyeglasses or spectacles, are vision eyewear, with lenses (clear or tinted) mounted in a frame that holds them in front of a person's eyes, typically utilizing a bridge over the nose and hinged arms (known as temples or ...

(termed the "carrier") and

binoculars Binoculars or field glasses are two refracting telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects. Most binoculars are sized to be held ...

, or be designed to attach to existing glasses. Some use monoculars which have small telescopes mounted on, in, or behind their regular lenses, so that they can look through either the regular lens or the telescope. Newer designs use smaller lightweight mini telescopes magnifying up to six times, which can be embedded into the spectacle glass and improve aesthetic appearance. The mini telescopic eyeglasses have been shown to be used in the treatment of

nystagmus Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary (or voluntary, in some cases) eye movement. Infants can be born with it but more commonly acquire it in infancy or later in life. In many cases it may result in reduced or limited vision. Due to the invol ...

. In some jurisdictions, those with low vision may be permitted to drive automobiles when using Bioptics.

Bioptic driving

Bioptic driving ometimes written with uppercase ''O'' as ''biOptic'', or hyphenated as ''bi-optic'', to differentiate with other types of biopticis a method of driving that utilizes the patient's unmagnified vision in combination with intermittent spotting through a small telescopic system that improves the sharpness of the patient's far vision. Bioptic patients look through just their carrier lens about 95% of the time. When they want magnification, the patient quickly glances through the binocular portion to see details such as street signs, traffic lights and far distant objects. The brief use of the bioptic telescope is much like the quick look all drivers make into their rear view mirror. Bioptic driving requires careful fitting of the system followed by extensive training in both the use of the bioptic and behind-the-wheel driver's training. Determining whether a visually impaired individual may become a bioptic driver requires a multidisciplinary approach. This may include the low vision specialist, physicians, driving rehabilitators, occupational therapists and orientation and mobility instructors. The process includes a number of checks and balances to rule out those patients who would not be safe, while identifying those with the potential to be a safe bioptic driver.

References

External links

BiopticDrive.org: video clips

BiopticDriving.org

BiopticDrivingNetwork.org: on Facebook

BiopticDrivingUSA.com

BiopticDriversAus.com
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