In spite of the many patients with low vision due to age-related macul
ar degeneration, the year's publications on their rehabilitation are f
ew. The most common complaint of these patients is their inability to
read. For this purpose, simple optical devices, eg, overcorrection in
reading glasses, hand-held or stand magnifiers, are usually best. With
closed-circuit television systems, reading speed may be faster and re
ading time may be longer but these systems are still too expensive for
most users. Results on bifocal intraocular lenses used as a Galilean
telescopic system are still unconfirmed. New ideas for many technical
devices suitable also for elderly patients have been presented.