{"id":9322,"date":"2021-01-05T18:36:01","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T18:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9322"},"modified":"2021-07-19T11:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T11:44:00","slug":"using-a-smartphone-for-low-vision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/low-vision\/guide-to-low-vision-magnifiers\/using-a-smartphone-for-low-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"Using a Smartphone for Low Vision"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>There are no limits to what you can do with a smartphone nowadays, even if you have low vision.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Smartphones, with their advanced technology and never ending possibilities have changed the way we connect with family and friends, manage our businesses, and enjoy the world of entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, with the advancement in technology and the endless opportunities that smartphones can provide, even patients with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/optical\/low-vision\/\">low vision<\/a> can use smartphones, regardless of the extent of their vision loss.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">Find an Eye Doctor <\/a>directory can provide a list of eye doctors near you that can discuss the best options to allow you to maximize your vision and enjoy your life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/low-vision\/guide-to-low-vision-magnifiers\/what-are-side-vision-glasses\/\">What Are Side Vision Glasses?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>How can smartphones be adapted for people with low vision?<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1 Smartphone accessibility features\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Accessibility features are built-in software that modify specific features on your phone, based on your individual needs. These features are especially helpful for people who have a vision or hearing impairment.<\/p>\n<p><b>2. VoiceOver\/TalkBack<\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cVoiceOver\u201d or \u201cTalkBack\u201d features read everything aloud, from text messages to icon names and menu details on your phone.<\/p>\n<p><b>3. Voice assistants\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Voice assistants, like the well known Siri, can help you to access anything on your phone, as well as allow you to search the internet without ever looking at your phone.<\/p>\n<p><b>4. Text-to-speech\/ Read aloud technology<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The text-to-speech feature is activated by your voice and can be used to read digital text out loud.<\/p>\n<p><b>5. Solid backgrounds<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Use solid colored backgrounds to improve color contrast and allow you to locate the icons on your phone more easily.<\/p>\n<p><b>6. Font size and screen brightness<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Adjust the font size and brightness of your screen to improve vision clarity.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Low vision aids<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>A variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/low-vision\/guide-to-low-vision-magnifiers\/what-to-look-for-in-a-low-vision-magnifier-2\/\">low vision devices<\/a> can improve your near vision for smartphone use, as well as other near vision activities.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the most popular low vision devices that may be helpful while using your smartphone include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hand-held magnifiers<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital magnifiers or close circuit television (CCT)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioptic telescopic glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low vision magnifying reading glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prismatic reading glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telemicroscope glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reverse telescopic glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custom-made optical systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While low vision can significantly impact quality of life, there are a wide variety of devices that can help you to navigate through life with a greater sense of ease and independence.<\/p>\n<p>Your smartphone is just one device that can be used to your benefit.<\/p>\n<p><b>If you have yet to explore the world of low vision aids, speak with your eye doctor or low vision specialist to find out which low vision aids can be most helpful to you.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>A low vision aid will not only help you to gain increased independence for many daily activities, but can also enhance your screen time\u2014 allowing you to communicate with others, enjoy from the world of entertainment, and even manage your bank accounts and businesses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Low vision affects millions of people worldwide. Take advantage of technology to maximize your vision.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/\">Guide to Low Vision<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1626724076623000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHvtjsez2FyXk6NC-mbU-zp9WwRDg\">Schedule an appointment<\/a> with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to discuss how low vision aids might benefit your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are no limits to what you can do with a smartphone nowadays, even if you have low vision.\u00a0 Smartphones, with their advanced technology and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":9323,"parent":9893,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[174,482],"class_list":["post-9322","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-low-vision","tag-low-vision-aids"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - 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