AI + Low Vision

Artificial intelligence (AI) is flying at us from all directions. With so many day-to-day challenges as an eyecare practitioner, it can be easy to miss the tools already available to your patients who are living with low vision. Even with instances where there might not be any vision correction you can offer these patients, you can help and assist them in an immediate, massive way by mentioning these tools that are popping up and constantly evolving. 

EB connected with Bryan Wolynski, OD, FAAO, the chief technology officer for Lighthouse Guild, to hear more about free resources and tips for sharing them with patients.

EB: What AI tools do you recommend to patients living with low vision?

Dr. Wolynski: The ones we tend to use are ones created specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired: Seeing AI, Envision AI, Aria, EMVI, ReBokeh, and ARx AI. Envision glasses will tell you if the whole [page you want captured is in the frame]—they’re designed for that—same with [the Seeing AI app], which is free.

EB: How does something like Seeing AI help low vision patients with daily tasks?

Dr. Wolynski: The biggest issue for somebody with low vision is getting content—not only digital information, but paper information. Mail, a menu in a restaurant, a newspaper, even though that’s more the older generation, not the younger. But, even so, mainstream newspapers online, are they optimized for the screen reader digitally? It’s easy to get lost within the site.

[Seeing AI] will tell you when everything’s in frame, take a picture all on its own, and start reading the text. [To watch TV], a gentleman who volunteers at the Lighthouse Guild takes out Seeing AI, holds it to face the TV, and it reads the subtitles out loud to him as they go. I can take a picture with a phone, it will give me a scene description, and I can ask it if there’s anyone in the third booth at the restaurant because that’s where I want to sit.

It gives people more confidence and [allows them to choose between] staying home versus going out or being able to go back to work after vision loss.

EB: What are some barriers you face when introducing these tools to patients?

Dr. Wolynski: People know what AI is, but they’re not sure how it works or how they can use it. When I tell people about [these tools], they’ll say, “Well I can’t use a phone; I lost my vision.” Of course, an older individual has a harder time, so they need to be taught.

Another thing is socialization, or what’s acceptable. You’re holding your phone trying to see the signs for the aisles [in a supermarket] and people think you’re taking a picture of them. I have another person I work with, and she goes, “Please don’t make me look like a character in ‘Star Wars.’” And that’s been the popularity with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

EB: How can ECPs use these tools in practice?

Dr. Wolynski: I like to say it to practitioners: The power is right in their pocket. People don’t understand the difference between seeing their regular optometrist or ophthalmologist, getting treatment, and coming for a low vision exam.

So, what’s great about these AI tools is that a general optometrist can say, “I know about Seeing AI, let’s put that right on your phone.” Get reception [involved] or one of the opticians. [ECPs] don’t have to be experts at it, but at least put it on their phone, open it up, and open up the possibilities to people. Go through it with the patient [so] they walk out having something of value.