Bioptic telescopes

1 March 2013
Volume 14, Issue 1

Boost your knowledge and understanding of this essential tool.

Introduction

A bioptic telescope comprises a miniature telescope that is mounted within a spectacle lens, positioned superiorly to the user’s visual axis and angled upwards. Classifying a bioptic telescope as an optical low-vision device, design features would indicate that it is most suitable for those with a mild to moderate visual impairment. The user habitually views through the ‘carrier’ spectacle lens for distance visual acuity. By lowering the chin and holding the gaze in the primary position, the user employs the bioptic telescope to view a magnified image of a specific target. The movement between the non-magnified and magnified image is termed ‘translation’.

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