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Getting the big picture with 20/20
Published Friday, December 29, 2006
Limitations of low vision lifted with some nifty gadgets
Low vision no longer has to place limitations on your life. A whole host of low vision aids are available to make everyday tasks doable again.
These ingenious devices can be found at 20/20 Optical, Inc., 615 S. Mill St., Suite 2, Fergus Falls Medical Group building.
“We’ve carried low vision products for about eight years,” Lorri Holt, 20/20’s low vision aid specialist, said. “But this past summer we took the next step and got into products that are more affordable. We needed to have more options.”
It’s all there. From the simple —envelope, signature and check writing guides, cooking utensils and needle threaders — to the more complex — magnifying lamps and magnifying reading machines.
“When a person becomes more handicapped by their low vision, they need a large-button phone. We have talking watches, talking alarm clocks, large-numbered cooking utensils, keychains that tell time.”
Let’s not forget big button TV remotes, high-power glasses for watching TV, special pens with bright, black, fine lines and large, black-lined paper.
“When you’re writing to someone with poor eyesight, you should use white paper and a fine-point black pen,” said Holt. “People think they’re going ot write a letter on this pretty paper, but colored paper and blue ink is harder to see.”
Unbelievably, not all of these items are new inventions.
“These things have been around for years, but if you don’t need a product, you don’t know it’s there,” Holt said. “People know we have low vision products, but we have so many more products and they’re more economically priced now.”
To get the word out, Holt plans to visit area senior citizen groups. However, anyone with failing eyesight, not just seniors, will appreciate these items.
For more information or to see some of the products, drop into the store. Besides the in-store products, a catalog is also available.
Holt or low vision assistant Sheila Rodning will be happy to assist you. Call 998-2020.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by fergusfalls (anonymous) on December 8, 2007 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sheila rodning is the best looking person in fergus falls!!!!!
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