[Visual rehabilitation: magnifying vision aids].

Many retinal diseases can be treated either with laser treatment or with vitreo-retinal surgery. However, in some of these cases a severe visual loss cannot be avoided and visual rehabilitation has to be initiated. Visual rehabilitation is initially performed by fitting low vision aids. With low vision aids the patients ability to read can be restored as well as many other needs of every days life e.g. reading bus numbers, street names, bank notes or letters. In analogy with the higher life expectancy in the middle european countries the incidence of age related maculopathy will increase in the next years. Thus, the need for visual rehabilitation will increase as well.