E-Scoop Glasses

Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataracts & Retinitis Pigmentosa

Glasses For Visual Impairment

E-Scoop glasses are customized glasses designed for people with early stages of vision loss. By combining 5 different optical characteristics, E-Scoop glasses may help you or your loved ones use their remaining vision to drive, read, use the computer and much more.

What Is E-Scoop Glasses?

E-Scoop glasses are custom designed optics that combine 5 unique optical characteristics to maximize the remaining vision of a low vision patient. These 5 optical features focus the image onto the part of the eye that is least affected by vision loss, thereby maximizing the patient’s current vision.

Why Are E-Scoops Ideal For Early Stages Of Vision Loss?

Patients with early stages of macular degeneration will begin to experience vision loss in the center of their vision. This is due to a high concentration of cones in the macula, which begin to degenerate and cause a blurry/dull/black hole in their central vision.

Unlike the macula, the side of the macula does not have so many cones, and by shifting the image from the highly damaged center of the macula to the less damaged periphery, the patient is left with better visual acuity.

How Do E-Scoop Glasses Work?

E-Scoop glasses combine 5 optical features to assist a low vision patient:

  • Custom tint (Color)
  • Anti-reflective (Coating)
  • Special lens (Thickness)
  • Base (Curve)
  • Base up (Prism) 4 base, 6 base, or 8 base.

E-Scoops for Macular Degeneration & Regaining Visual Acuity

E-Scoops for the Visually Impaired IALVS

E-Scoops for Macular Degeneration & Daily Tasks

How Do E-Scoop Glasses Help?

E-Scoop glasses help patients who have difficulty driving at night, using the computer, or adjusting to changes in light/brightness. For many patients with macular degeneration or other low vision diseases, even early stages of vision loss can hamper their ability to get around and do the things they love.

For many, E-Scoop glasses are the ideal low vision aid, as they provide new hope for the patient who is able to regain their ability to do so many things that they thought were no longer an option due to their vision loss. The tint allows for reduced visual stress from bright light such as daylight, along with UV protection, leading to greater comfort and improved vision.

The anti-reflective coating reduces glare during night driving, using a computer and similar tasks. The curve of the lens works to subtly enlarge the image enabling the wearer to experience more detail. The prism directs the light away from the damaged areas of the macula to the outer area that is generally unaffected at this stage of macular degeneration.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate For E-Scoop Glasses?

For patients with early stages of vision loss due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, E-Scoop glasses may be the ideal choice.

Patients who are recommended E-Scoop glasses tend to have one or more of the following issues:

  • Difficulty with driving at night due to glare
  • Issues with contrast, such as seeing food on a plate with a similar color to the plate or viewing text on your computer.
  • Difficulty seeing outside due to the brightness of the light.
  • Patients with advanced vision loss will generally need more advanced optics to provide measurable improvements to their vision and quality of life.

E-Scoop Glasses and Driving

E-Scoop glasses may be the perfect option for someone who wants to drive but their vision is not meeting the requirements to pass DMV. Unlike bioptic telescopes, which are recommended for many low vision patients who are looking to drive, E-Scoops are for patients who do not require a big improvement in their vision in order to drive.

Like all low vision aids, each case needs to be assessed on an individual basis by our low vision doctor, in order to provide a customized recommendation that will best suit your visual needs.

Using E Scoops for patients with vision loss to drive at night

Advanced Optics For Low Vision

How Much Do E-Scoop Glasses Cost?

The cost of E-Scoop glasses will depend on the exact specifications that you need. For example, nonprescription clip on E-Scoop glasses will cost less than progressive glasses with a higher magnification (base curve). That said, E-Scoop glasses are considerably lower cost compared to other custom optics like bioptic telescope glasses.

Ordering E-Scoop Glasses

E-Scoop glasses are available as both standalone glasses and as a clip-on option. They are also available without a prescription, in single vision, progressive, and the flat top. E-Scoop glasses are available in yellow, brown, and clear tint, however yellow tint is considered ideal for maximum effectiveness. E-Scoops can be placed in full rimmed oval glasses made out of plastic or metal, and are not suitable for rimless or half-rim frames due to the lens curvature and thickness.

As each pair of E-Scoop glasses is customized to the individual patient needs, our low vision doctor requires a low vision exam in order to assess that E-Scoop glasses are right for you. Unsure what to do?

Are E-Scoop Glasses Covered By Medicare or Other Medical or Vision Insurance Plans?

E-Scoop glasses are not covered by medicare or other insurance plans, however insurance plans are always changing their coverage and it is best to check with our eye doctor to see if there are updates to coverage by your particular vision insurance or medical insurance plan.

Are E-Scoop Glasses Worth the Cost?

In our experience, the life-changing nature of low vision aids far exceeds their costs. While we understand that for many the cost of low vision aids, and custom optics, in particular, can exceed their budget, we also try and give over the many benefits that make low vision aids a worthwhile investment. Other hi-tech options are also available.