CEN recently published new standard EN ISO 15253 ‘Ophthalmic optics and instruments — Optical and electro-optical devices for enhancing low vision’. The new standard specifies requirements for manufacturers of instruments for use by the visually impaired as low vision aids.
In particular, the standard summarises and defines optical and electro-optical visual aids. In the case of optical aids, various available systems are dealt with, such as hand-held or head-worn magnifiers or magnifiers fixed in a device. The text also covers in detail more complex optical systems consisting of two lenses (telescopes).
Other elements that are present in the standard are the optical details of magnification, optical axis, working distance, together with electro-optical parameters such as screen size, resolution, possible magnification on the screen, and supplementary aids such as the XY stage. Imaging errors and optical distortions are also taken into account, together with requirements on how they should be complied with individually.
EN ISO 15253 combines into a single standard two separate previously existing documents, EN ISO 15253 for optical aids and EN ISO 15254 for electro-optical and electronic aids for the visually impaired.
As a compact summary of all optical and optoelectronic aids available, EN ISO 15253 provides valuable help not just to manufacturers, but also to the many people worldwide who suffer from visual impairments.
EN ISO 15253 was developed by CEN/TC 170 ‘Ophthalmic optics’, whose Secretariat is held by DIN, the German National Standardization Body.
Jennifer OGBONNA
jogbonna@cencenelec.eu
