Yes I Can Blog

#7 Visual Magnifying Machine
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 by Deb Vellines

When Millie’s bank or credit card statements arrive, she reads it with the use of her visual magnifying machine. “The machine is expensive,” Millie says, “but worth every penny.”

The cost depends on the size of the monitor screen, whether the images are black and white or color, and the amount of magnification. To insure the best selection, talk with an eye doctor or low vision specialist. When Millie wanted to find out if this machine could really help her, a representative from Optelec came to her apartment and demonstrated it. If you want to know if the machine is right for you, a representative will bring it to your house and show you how it operates. The web site is www.optelec.com  and the phone number is 800 826 4200.

Another machine to check is Enhanced Vision. www.enhancedvision.com/ The toll free number is 888-811-3161. They, too, offer a no obligation in home demonstration. The text – to – speech feature might appeal. Both machines have this feature.

Currently Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of low vision devices. It’s important to make sure the device can be returned for no cost if it doesn’t meet the needs. Some state societies for low vision can be a source for secondhand devices.

“My machine helps me remain independent,” says Millie. “I bet I use it four or five times a day.” Besides reading her financial statements, Millie uses her machine to read her mail and labels on food cans. Instead of opening a can of soup and not knowing what kind it is, she checks the label with her magnifying machine.

Millie can even read the small print in a phone directory. It’s a slow process because enlarging the print fifty times means only a few words can come up on the screen at a time. Some phone companies offer free 411 calls for their sight impaired customers. You will know if this service is available by calling 411 and asking.

Scanners are available now that give an audio readout of whatever is scanned


Previous Posts

#77 Alexa
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#76 Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#75 Surviving without Driving
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#74 WayAround Tags
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#73 SYFOVRE eye injections
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#72 You Are Not a Burden!
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

#71 Anger
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#70 Self-Confidence
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#69 Bright Focus Chats
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#68 Zoom Meeting Suggestions
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#67 Living Well with Low Vision by Prevent Blindness
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#66 The Hadley School for the Blind
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#65 AIRA
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#64 Fanny Crosby
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#63 Derek Daniel and Life After Sight Loss
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#62 – 8 Hints for Cell Phones
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#61 Retinal Implants
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#60 EyeSmart
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#59 Voice Commands
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#58 Grocery Shopping
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#57 Eye Appointments and COVID-19
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#56 Social Distancing
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#55 Be My Eyes Update
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#54 Blind Beatitudes
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#53 Seeing AI
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#52 Research & Development 2019
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#51 Yes I Can – Another 25
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#50 Yes I Can Times 25
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#49 Blind Parents
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#48 Audio Description at the Movies
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#47 3 Inspiring Blind People
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#46 Drug Update
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#45 Do You Volunteer?
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#44 5 Pinterest Pins
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#43 – Four Reference Books
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#42 Trust Instead of Worry
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#41 Depression
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#40 eSight 3
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#39 Bioptic Telescopes
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#38 – CentraSight
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#37 – 11 Bathroom Hints
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#36 Public Restrooms
Deb Vellines

1/31/2025

#35 Helen Keller Quotes
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#34 Six Tips to Choose Sunglasses
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#33 Another Be My Eyes Call
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#32 Be My Eyes Call
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#31 Quiz Answers
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

# 30 Quiz re: Sunglasses
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#29 Phone Apps Help Low Vision
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#28 News
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#27 – 9 More Ways to Help
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#26 – 9 Ways to Help
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#25 White Cane (continued)
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#24 White Cane
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#23 Be My Eyes
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#22 Dry Macular Degeneration Trials
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#21 Search Clinical Trials
Deb Vellines

1/30/2025

#20 Clinical Trials
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#19 Eye Injections (continued)
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#18 Eye Injections
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#15 Systems of Sight
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#16 Update on Systems of Sight
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#17 Knowledge is Power!!
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#14 Household Hints
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#12 Reduce the Risks of Macular Degeneration
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#13 Kitchen Hints
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#11 Beecher Binoculars
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#9 Volunteer Work
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#10 Talking Books and Magazines
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#8 Handicap Parking Permit and Restaurants
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#7 Visual Magnifying Machine
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#6 Amsler Chart
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#5 Handling Money (continued)
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#4 Shopping and Handling Money
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#3 I Have Low Vision Button
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#2 Sharing Items to Help
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025

#1 Welcome and Support Groups
Deb Vellines

1/29/2025