Vision Aids

During your assessments, you will explore different vision aids to help you make the most of your vision. We can customize devices to fit your specific needs and help you accomplish the visual tasks that are important to you. Plus, our loan program allows you to try devices at home.

Low-tech devices

• Specialized magnification glasses
• Medical tints and filters
• Monoculars and telescopes
• Binoculars
• Field enhancement devices
• Magnifiers

High-tech devices

• CCTV – To magnify reading material or change colours for contrast
• Scanners – To scan reading material and it read to you
• Specialized computers and software – Personalize your computer to make it more accessible, add software to magnify text and read text
• E-readers - apps are available to improve accessibility on your smart devices
• Tablets
• Smart technology adaptations
• Braillers
• Head-mounted video cameras

Non-optical devices

• Bold-lined writing pads and guides
• Large print games
• Needle threader
• Talking devices (i.e. phone, pen, etc.)
• Audio book players

Through our Device Loan Program, clients can borrow devices on a short-term basis to develop necessary skills and experience the advantages and disadvantages of using them. This trial can begin immediately after an assessment or as part of a training program. In most cases, the low vision therapist will place a follow-up call to inquire about your experience using these devices. Unfortunately, custom and high-technology devices are not available for loan.

The Low Vision Service maintains an inventory of devices and spectacles that are prescribed frequently. These can be dispensed through the Service and purchased following an assessment. All low vision aids are dispensed on a fee-for-service basis.

Funding for Devices

Assistance for the cost of visual aids may be available from:

• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) – more about this below
• School boards
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program (ACSD), Ontario Works (OW)
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• Employers or employee benefit plans
• Veterans Affairs Canada
• Service clubs

Assistive Devices Program

An important factor in our provision of low vision services is the Ontario Assistive Devices Program (ADP). This is a unique provincial program that pays up to 75 per cent of an approved maximum towards the cost of authorized devices for people who have long-term disabilities.

The George and Judy Woo Centre for Sight Enhancement has an ongoing contract with the Ministry of Health for the provision of assessment and authorization services for high technology sight enhancement devices being funded under the ADP program. ADP funding is restricted to specialized equipment for use in the home or to assist with activities of daily living, and not devices whose use is restricted to school or work.

Eligibility for the subsidized provision of low vision devices through ADP is determined exclusively by the following conditions: 

• The functional vision impairment must be long-term and cannot be corrected medically, surgically or with regular glasses or contact lenses.
• Applicants must reside in the province of Ontario.

Used Equipment

High-tech vision aids such as CCTVs that are no longer on the Assistive Devices Program catalogue are sold. The most frequently available items are CCTVs. Prices vary from $200 to $300 depending on the model. All sales are final, so purchasers should be familiar with CCTVs prior to purchasing. Appointments to look at sale units are not possible.