Robson Ophthalmic Opticians Newcastle - Low Vision Clinic

At F. Robson & Co Opticians we have a specialist low vision clinic within the practice. Here we will assess your residual vision and determine if it can be assisted and utilised to read and write and to view things which you have difficulty in seeing.

The comprehensive list of low visual aids which we supply include:

• Modified spectacles
• Spectacle mounted telescopes
• Special illumination
• Lens filters
• Hand held telescopes
• CCTV (closed circuit television)
• Magnifiers - illuminated and hand held
• Stand magnifiers
• Monoculars
• Telescopes
• Reading stands

Low Vision Aids

The condition macular degeneration affects mainly but not exclusively elderly people. Says Cecilia Bell, who manages the low vision clinic, "Whilst there is no cure for the condition, it is usually possible to enhance the remaining vision. On several occasions we have enabled people to read again, after they have been informed that there is nothing that can be done surgically to help them".

We can also help people with inherited conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardts Syndrome. There are a number of low visual aids which enable us to maximise the effectiveness of the residual vision. Some of the options include reading aids from specialists such as Keeler, Coil and Eschenbach. For greater mobility we can design spectacle mounted magnifiers and small portable magnifiers.

This is an area of optical treatment where the NHS service is limited due to funding restrictions. We take referrals from social workers, other opticians and local societies for those with low vision.

We can also demonstrate and supply closed circuit television L.V.A.s, which project magnified images of printing, correspondence, photographs, documents and medicine bottles onto a TV screen.

Each aid, or combination of aids will be professionally prescribed, on an individual basis, by Cecilia Bell, who is a qualified specialist. Costs vary from a hand magnifier at £5.95 to complex CCTV systems at over £2,000.

It is important that adequate time is devoted to thoroughly research each patient's needs and so a nominal fee of £20 is charged for the initial, in depth consultation.