Introduction
There are many people of all ages that have some type of Visual Impairment that can be resolved with the aid of Glasses which are used for vision correction, such as Reading Glasses and Glasses used for nearsightedness. Contact lenses can also be used for this purpose. Glasses consist of glass or hard plastic lenses mounted in a frame which holds them in front of a person's eyes. In the past, these lenses were made exclusively of glass, but as technology advances, so did lenses and today most lenses are made of high-tech plastics which are lighter and don’t break or scratch as easily as glass. Glasses are typically used for vision correction, but there are also a wide variety of other types of Glasses used for Sport, Entertainment (3D Glasses), Work or as a fashion accessory, such as Sunglasses. The page below will deal with the types of Glasses which can assist and protect the eyes of Persons who are Blind or have serious Visual Impairments. Many of these products are available in South Africa and are sold by Organizations and Companies such as Edit Microsystems and Sensory Solutions.
Edit Microsystems: Edit Microsystems (Pty) Ltd is an award-winning company that is devoted to finding alternative and state-of-the-art technical solutions to improve curriculum delivery in educational institutions and effective communication in
business with a focus on high-speed functional connectivity and on-going support. They have a proud tradition of innovation and are on the cutting edge of technological advances in education. Many of their products are designed to enhance interactivity in a classroom or lecture theatre. Edit Microsystems are also a leader in finding and providing specially adapted hardware and software for Learners with Special Educational Needs throughout South Africa.
Edit Microsystems can be contacted on: 086 111 3973 and have their Head Office in Cape Town at: 13 Boy De Goede Circle, Table View, 7441. They also have an online shop and branches in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng.
To contact these other branches or find out more about Edit Microsystems and the products they supply, visit their web site at: www.editmicro.co.za or email them at: info@editmicro.co.za.
Sensory Solutions: Sensory Solutions is a South African company with considerable experience in the field of accommodating persons who are visually impaired, blind or partially sighted. We specialise in the field of providing Access Technology solutions for individuals, schools, universities, government departments and more, in order to make the environment more accessible for the visually impaired.
Sensory Solutions is at the forefront of the world’s leading Access Technology products and are in some cases the exclusive distributors. Sensory Solutions is a responsible employer which employs people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds as well as those who are disabled. Part of our mission is to advise individuals and institutions on the best solutions available for particular environments, to design such solutions and finally to implement them on site. As such, we are approved African distributors for a wide range of Access Technology products selected specifically for their suitability to the African environment and our specific situation.
We are proud to be appointed exclusive and preferred dealerships for some of the world’s most leading Access Technology manufacturers. Our mission and ethos revolve around our fellow man, empowering them and making the playing fields level as far as we can make a difference.
Whether you are an individual, institution or company in need of information regarding Access Technology, we are ready to assist you. Please feel free to contact us at our Head Office on: +27 12 664 7704 or at 226 Kruger Avenue, Lyttelton Manor, Centurion, 0157. Email: hope@sensorysolutions.co.za, khan@sensorysolutions.co.za or visit our website at: www.sensorysolutions.co.za
Please read the information below to find out more about these different types of Glasses as well as some of the companies that supply them.
Corrective Glasses
Corrective Glasses or lenses are used to correct refractive errors by bending the light entering the eyes in order to alleviate the effects 
of conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. As most people get older, they can develop a condition which makes it difficult for them to focus on objects close to the eyes. Corrective lenses bring the image back into focus on the retina. Most persons that have these types of Visual Impairments can visit an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for an examination which indicates what corrective lenses are appropriate for that patient. At the conclusion of the exam, the Optometrist or Ophthalmologist will order and/or assemble the frames and appropriate lenses, which are then dispensed and sold to the patient. Corrective Glasses can significantly improve the quality of life of the wearer, as they not only enhance the wearer's visual experience, but can also reduce problems that result from eye strain, such as headaches or squinting. If you feel that you may need Glasses, you should contact an Optometrist for an eye test. There are Optometrists throughout the country and you can visit: "Optometrist Directory.co.za" to find an Optometrist in your area.
Safety & Protective Glasses
Safety & Protective Glasses are worn to protect your eyes while working in potentially hazardous jobs, such as Construction work, Factory work, or as Machinists and as Lab Technicians. These Safety Glasses are made from break proof plastic lenses to protect the eyes from flying debris or hazardous splatter, such as blood or chemicals. Safety Glasses for welding are also used and are styled like wraparound sunglasses, but with much darker lenses, while nylon frames are used for protection eye wear for some sports, thus giving the Glasses lightweight and flexible properties. Some Safety Glasses include protection beside the eyes as well as in front of the eyes and can also be used to protect the eyes against visible and near-visible light or radiation, such as Anti-Glare Protection Glasses.
Anti-Glare Protection Glasses also be known as Anti-Reflective Glasses can reduce the reflection of light that enters our eyes, the lenses are given an anti-glare coating to prevent reflections of light under different lighting conditions, therefore reducing the amount of glare on your eyes and improving your vision. There are a variety of different types of these Anti-Glare Glasses, including Glasses that can fit over your prescription glasses or clip or hook onto them. The Anti-Glare also applies to the outer glass, thus allowing for better eye contact, they can also come with polarized lenses for extra protection against glare.
Anti-Glare Wrap-Around & Fit Over Glasses
There are a variety of different types of these Anti-Glare Wrap-Around Glasses and Fit Over Glasses which are available in South Africa, some of these are sold by Companies such as Edit Microsystems, who sell products such as the:
Deluxe Semi Wrap-Around Anti-Glare Glasses: These Anti-Glare Glasses are close fitting with adjustable arms to provide extra protection. There are 5 colour filters to choose from and the glasses come in one standard size. They have infra-red (IR) protection for relief from eye fatigue and are designed to be worn alone and not over regular glasses.
These Anti-Glare Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more about the colour filter options or to purchase this product. 
Deluxe Anti-Glare Fit Over Glasses: These Anti-Glare Glasses (pictured right) have additional infra-red (IR) protection for relief from eye fatigue, they are available in 4 colour filters to maximise functional vision, enhance contrast and provide comfort from a disabling glare. The frames are one size only but have adjustable side arms so that the glasses fit comfortably over the arms.
These Anti-Glare Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more about the colour filter options or to purchase this product, or contact Edit Microsystems, to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Clip-On & Hook-On Anti-Glare Glasses
There are a wide variety of different types of Clip-On" or "Hook-On Anti-Glare Glasses", these Glasses clip on or hook on to your current prescription glasses, thus allowing for better eye contact. Some of these Glasses are available in South Africa and are sold by Companies such as Edit Microsystems, they include products such as the:
Clip-On with Flip-Up Style Anti-Glare Glasses: These Anti-Glare Glasses (pictured right) are designed to be used together with regular glasses. The glasses are easy to clip on and can be flipped up when not in use. There are four colour filters available and the glasses come in small and large sizes.
These Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems. Click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Hook On Style Anti-Glare Glasses: These Anti-Glare Glasses can be used together with your regular glasses, they have the ability to improve your vision and help to eliminate the reflections of light from the front and back surface of eyeglass lenses. The glasses come in a variety of sizes and are available in four different tints.
These Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Other similar Glasses are also available from Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Polarising Anti-Glare Glasses
There are a variety of different types of Polarising Anti-Glare Glasses which can assist Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments. These Glasses reduce the glare caused by bright light being reflected from particularly reflective surfaces such as glass, snow and water. Many of these types of Glasses are available in South Africa and are sold by Companies such as Edit Microsystems, they include products such as:
Polarising Anti-Glare Glasses: These Glasses have lenses which are made from a polarising material
, which reduces the glare caused by bright light being reflected from particularly reflective surfaces. The glasses come in a grey or amber colour filter and are available in a small or medium size. These Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Deluxe Polarising Semi Wrap-Around Glasses: These Glasses (pictured right) have polarising lenses which helps to reduce glare from reflective surfaces. These Glasses are designed to be worn by themselves and not over regular glasses, they come in a single standard size and are available with a grey or amber tint. These Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Other similar Glasses are also available from Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Other Types Of Glasses
There are a wide variety of other different types of Glasses which can assist Persons who are Blind, Colour Blind or have other Visual Impairments. Some of these products can assist persons to view longer distance and can be used for watching TV or sporting events, while other Smart or Electronic Glasses can enhance the vision of a Person with Visual Impairments or help a Person who is Blind to perceive the world. Many of these products are available in South Africa and are sold by Organizations and Companies such as Sensory Solutions, the South African National Council for the Blind and Edit Microsystems. This includes products such as:
Max Glasses
Max Glasses: are binocular telescopic glasses which are perfect for watching TV, sporting events, movies, theatre, bird watching, or any other distance viewing activity. These binocular telescope glasses will focus on objects from 10 feet to infinity.
The Max Glasses are sold in South Africa by the South African National Council for the Blind, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product..
MaxEvent Glasses
The MaxEvent glasses: (pictured right) are perfect for seeing indoor and outdoor events with more crisp and clear vision and to ensure the feeling of positivity and close to action. They consist of a mirrored coating that has been applied to the lenses by a
process called vapor deposition which eliminates the glare of the sun and allows enlargement of the eyes of the person wearing the glasses, which is not visible to the external observer. The glasses are hands free and is head mounted, they can be adjusted so that each eye lens can be focused separately, enabling a very adaptable system with flexible temples. The MaxEvent glasses are very comfortable and provide 2.1 x magnification.
The MaxEvent Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Power TV Glasses
Power TV Glasses: The lightweight and adjustable Power TV Glasses (pictured right) provide 2X magnification, ideal for distance
viewing. These comfortable glasses are perfect for watching television, movies, sporting events or other activities. Using a fully adjustable twin-lens design to set a desired viewing distance, the easy-to-use glasses will maximise the size of your television screen and provide complete enjoyment of multiple activities. The optimal focal distance is 1.2 m. It weighs only 71 g and includes a micro-fibre cleaning cloth and protective carrying case.
Power TV Glasses are sold in South Africa by Sensory Solutions, please click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
AngelEye Smart Glasses
The AngelEye Smart Glasses: (pictured right) are a slim, portable, reliable and powerful intelligent device which has a stylish industrial design and assists Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments. These Smart Glasses are based on the most advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence technology and are designed to enable Persons who are Blind or have Visual
Impairments, to perceive their daily life. Working with a smartphone or specialized control box, it captures visual information, analyzes and communicates the result in audio back to the Persons with Visual Impairments, so that they can perceive the world.
It’s Features and functions include:
1. A Virtual Cane: The glasses will detect any obstacle that they may hit into, then communicate it to the user through audio. This includes:
- obstacles 125 px higher than the road surface and lower than your height.
- Pits that are 125 px deep from the road.
2. Advanced Recognition: These glasses will recognize 20 object categories and communicate them to the user through voice. Everything is done locally and no wireless connection is needed. The objects that it detects includes: crosswalk, stairs, doors, the exit, cash note, color, text, people, etc.
3. Location Reporting: With a simple push-button, it reports the user’s location information, e.g. street name, next cross’ name, distance to the next cross, heading direction, nearby ROIs etc.
4. Bone Conduction Headphone: The glasses can perform as a fashion bone conduction headphone for music, phone calls, etc.
The AngelEye can only work when connected with smartphone or specialized control box through a USB cable and is used to simulate the functionality of the human eyes, so Persons with Visual Impairments will still need to make their own judgment of the surroundings and take the appropriate action, based on all the information perceived.
The AngelEye Smart Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems, click on the link to find out more information, or to purchase this product.
eSight Glasses
The eSight Glasses: (pictured right) are electronic glasses that enhance the vision of a person who has low vision by using a high-speed camera, video
processing software, a computer processor and high-quality video OLED screens to project a real-time image. By using zoom in/zoom out, contrast and colour adjustments, edge enhancement and brightness control, the eSight Eyewear is able to enhance whatever the wearer is looking at, thus maximizing their remaining eyesight. eSight is a registered medical device and it requires no surgery.
These eSight Glasses are sold in South Africa by Edit Microsystems. Click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Wearable Magnifiers
Wearable magnifiers are devices designed to assist individuals with low vision by providing magnification of nearby objects. These devices are typically worn on the head or attached to eyeglasses, and can be helpful for tasks such as reading, writing, or performing other visually demanding tasks.
There are several types of wearable magnifiers, including head-mounted magnifiers (HMDs), which are worn on the head like a pair of goggles, and clip-on magnifiers, which can be attached to the user's existing eyeglasses. HMDs can provide a wider field of view than clip-on magnifiers, but may be bulkier and more cumbersome to wear.
Some wearable magnifiers are also equipped with additional features, such as LED lights to provide additional illumination for the user. These can be particularly useful in low-light environments, or for individuals with limited vision who require additional illumination to see clearly. Wearable magnifiers can be a useful tool for individuals with low vision, as they can provide additional magnification and help to make everyday tasks easier and more manageable. Some of these Wearable Magnifiers are available in South Africa and are sold by Companies such as Sensory Solutions, they include products such as the:
Acesight | S: Acesight and Acesight S (pictured right) are wearable electronic glasses that let you see even with severe low vision. With a super-fast 60 Hz refresh rate and an open design that doesn’t cover your peripheral vision, looking around with Acesight feels natural and comfortable. In addition to natural colour, Acesight can convert your world into a variety of high-contrast colours, including light text on a dark background. Best of all, it can even outline the view to add definition to objects around you.
Whether you’re cutting bread to make a sandwich or pouring a cup of coffee, you’ll be able to use both hands to do so while wearing Acesight. Take it outside while walking around your garden or your neighbourhood, or use it at the store or your favourite restaurant. Key Features include Augmented Reality (AR) open display; Full HD display; 8 megapixels camera; 45 degree field of view (per eye); 60 Hz refresh rate; 1.1x – 15x magnification; 10 contrast colours and full colour; 3 enhanced outline modes adding lines to edges of things; Floating reading mode to freeze the view and see a big still image; Find function to locate things in a higher magnification; Narrow mode to help see the whole picture; Rechargeable Li-ion battery 4+ hours usage time; Acesight S (simplified version): Find function and Narrow mode not available; Only 4 contrast colours possible.
The Acesight S Glasses are sold in South Africa by Sensory Solutions, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Acesight VR: Acesight VR (pictured right) is the latest addition to the Acesight family of wearable devices. It is light and bright and uses powerful visual technology to help you regain your visual independence. Watch your favourite TV shows with an incredible smooth and bright image, without the lag. Acesight VR is cool in more ways than one. Best of all is the cool operating temperature, even after 1-2 hours of continuous use.
There is nothing complicated about Acesight VR. Sit down, put it on and enjoy what you see around you. The industry-leading resolution makes everything look and feel great. You will notice the image looks vivid and bright. Acesight VR is full of pleasant surprises, including an amazing 48 megapixels camera that is up to 4 times better than anything else. With an extra wide 65 degree field of view, this device lets you see more of the world around you.
At just under 450 g in weight, Acesight VR is lighter than most other wearable devices and feels comfortable to wear, even for extended periods of use.
Key Features: Virtual Reality (VR); Screen resolution: 2340 × 1080 full HD; Camera: 48 megapixels; Field of view: 65 degree; Refresh rate: 60 fps; Magnification: 1x – 16x; Wireless 3-button controller; Helpful functions – outline, high contrast, find, narrow display; 2.5+ h usage time, 1.5 h charging time a a Weight of 460 g.
The Acesight VR Glasses are sold in South Africa by Sensory Solutions, click on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Enchroma Glasses
Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some degree of color blindness. There are different types of color blindness but the most common is known as ‘red-green color blindness. Color blindness is a condition in which the retinal cone cells respond
to light differently than normal. People with color blindness can usually still see colors but have color confusions or see certain pairs of colors so similarly that they cannot tell them apart. The underlying cause of most color vision deficiencies is due to the red and green-sensitive retinal cone cells having an overlapping response to light. Instead of responding separately to each wavelength of light, their response is highly similar. Enchroma Glasses have been developed to compensate for the overlap, the Enchroma lens contains proprietary optical materials that selectively remove particular wavelengths of light exactly where the overlap is occurring.
Visit the Enchroma website to find out more, or to see if these Glasses will work for you. You can currently purchase them online from ebay or from the Enchroma website.
To view more information about these Assistive Devices and others, view the menu on the left or feel free to Contact Us if you have any questions about the products and Services listed on this page and we will point you in the right direction.
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