New technology aids the legally blind.

Vicky Zeisler, a college art student and mother of two young boys, slowly was losing her sight and rapidly losing her independence. Doctor's determined she suffered from Stargardt's macular degeneration. It was a disorder diagnosed when she was a teenager, and, until recently, she could do nothing while her vision continued to get worse.

However, researchers at Saint Louis (Mo.) University School of Medicine and Enhanced Visions Systems, Inc., have developed technology that will allow Zeisler and millions of others who experience vision loss due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or other conditions to see again. The lightweight, head-mounted system is known as the Vision Maximizer or, more simply, V-Max.

The V-Max weighs less than 23 ounces, is completely portable, and can be fitted and usable within a few minutes. It is the first head-mounted color camera and display system using...