Meta glasses do not help those with vision loss see better. Meta glasses are smart glasses that assist the visually impaired to overcome their challenges in alternate ways, navigate their worlds more effectively and make their lives better.

"Technology can be a very helpful tool," said Taylor Newswanger, who's been a low vision occupational therapist at VisionCorps for 10 years. "There are a lot of low-tech things that can be helpful. But (VisionCorps is) not just about technology. We're about people and their needs."

VisionCorps, which is located at 244 N. Queen St., Lancaster, does not sell meta glasses - they are available at the offices of local eye doctors and through large retailers like Amazon. But VisionCorps does offer training, advice and consultations about the practical applications and the uses of meta glasses.

Newswanger also periodically presents meta glasses as a topic in VisionCorps' quarterly webinar series VC Presents, which is currently available on http://www.youtube.com.

"Meta glasses work with AI; it's a camera and a phone," said Newswanger. "It's all auditory. The glasses connect to smart phones or tablets, where it gets information. It's connecting to the internet, and it's giving you that information. It's like having Siri or Alexa on your face, and when it's on your face, it can travel with you."

"You can tell the glasses to read a piece of paper for you," continued Newswanger. "It can use GPS or help you navigate a crosswalk. This is a tool that can help you be more independent; it's not taking independence away. It's saying that because you can't do it with your eyes, the glasses can do it for you."

The current form of meta glasses employs updated AI technology. Over the past two years, VisionCorps has assisted more than 100 meta glasses users.

"We have people coming in and wanting to try them," said Newswanger, a resident of East Hempfield Township. "We want them to be clients and to meet with someone from our occupational team. We don't sell the glasses, but we can help them find vendors, and they can come back and we will help train them with their glasses."

According to VisionCorps, there are nearly 5,000 adults in Lancaster County living with vision loss, and of those adults, 5.4% are over age 65.

"(Meta glasses are) popular because they're affordable," said Newswanger. "Unfortunately, insurance does not view any visual aid as a necessity. It can be easy to use; hands-free is definitely nice, and they're very stylish. There can be some scary things about AI, but Meta has put privacy features in place. It's about teaching people how to be smart with AI. We teach you what not to do with them so they can continue to be used for good."

Meta glasses are also the perfect example of the role that VisionCorps plays in the Lancaster County community.

"We just want as many people as possible (to) be aware that vision loss is a difficult journey," said Newswanger. "It can be scary, but we want to provide guidance so they can be independent on that journey. Vision loss is an age-related disease. Older people didn't grow up with technology, and sometimes they're not open to technology. But even if you're older, you can use it. A lot of our younger clients find it's really helpful. There are a lot of cool features, and it's an aid to things."

VisionCorps' next VC Presents webinar is titled "Holiday Kitchen Confidence: Cooking and Baking With Vision Loss," and it will initially be presented from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20. For additional information, go to https://visioncorps.net.