Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do I know if I can benefit from the services offered by Lighthouse of Pinellas?
Answer: If you or someone you know has difficulty reading a newspaper, writing a check, managing medications, using household appliances such as microwave, washer & dryer, traveling safely around the community or reading the computer monitor, Lighthouse of Pinellas can help. If your vision loss is inhibiting your daily living, please call us today at (727) 544-4433!
Question: What are low vision devices?
Answer: They are devices, prescribed by a low vision eye doctor, to magnify, filter, or increase the usable field of vision. These lens devices are diverse and may include hand-held or stand magnifiers, special spectacles or clip-on magnifiers, telescopic lenses, microscopic telemicroscopic systems (reading telescopes), special filters, prisms and electronic devices such as closed circuit television systems. Training in the use of these devices is an integral part of low vision services.
Question: Are persons with low vision blind?
Answer: The American Foundation for the Blind suggests that the term "blind" and "blindness" be reserved for persons who have no usable sight at all, and the terms "visually impaired", "low vision", or "partially sighted" be used for persons who have some usable vision, no matter how little.
The main reason for the confusion between blindness and visual impairment is the existence of a "legal" definition for blindness in federal government developed in the early 1930's to classify persons eligible for special benefits. The World Health Organization defines legal blindness as best corrected vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye or a vision field of less than 20 degrees.
