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What it is:
Low vision is a loss of eyesight that makes everyday tasks difficult.
What You Need To Do:
See your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) regularly. Your doctor can treat the eye diseases that cause low vision and help you adjust to vision loss.
Why It’s Important:
The sooner you know about an eye problem, the better you can work with your doctor to prevent vision loss.
In-Depth Information:
| Symptoms | Treatment | Tests/Diagnosis | Causes/Risk Factors | All |
Symptoms
Low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, you cannot see well enough to do everyday tasks.
There are many signs that can signal vision loss. A person with low vision may find it difficult or impossible to accomplish such activities as reading, writing, shopping, watching television, driving a car, recognizing faces, and crossing the street.
You might have trouble picking out and matching the color of your clothes. The lights may seem dimmer than they used to, making work or household chores more difficult. The most common types of low vision include loss of central vision, loss of peripheral (side) vision, night blindness, blurred vision, and hazy vision.
Treatment
Magnifying glasses or lenses can help with low vision. These are an example of something called an optical low vision device. Magnifying glasses are stronger than ordinary glasses, and might help with reading or fine detail work. Or you might use a stand magnifier, which rests directly on the page, keeping the lens at the proper distance. Other optical low vision devices include hand magnifiers, telescopes, and video magnifiers.
There are other aids and devices that help with low vision. These include large-print books, newspapers, magazines, playing cards, and checks. There are high-contrast and large-number telephones, thermostats, watches, and remote controls.
You might use talking devices such as watches, timers, books and blood pressure and blood sugar machines. Many computers can magnify printed material and pictures, or read text aloud. Special software that reads what displays on a computer screen is called a screen reader. This can be helpful for using websites.
Good lighting and reducing glare are important for most people with low vision. A bright light close to reading material often improves vision.
In dimly lit areas, stronger light bulbs can make tasks like cooking, dressing, and walking up or down stairs easier. Wearing a hat with a wide brim or tinted wrap-around sunglasses can shield your eyes from dazzling overhead lights or sunlight.
Tests/Diagnosis
Your Eye M.D. can tell the difference between normal changes in an aging eye and those caused by eye diseases. If you have noticed changes in your vision, see your doctor right away.
A complete eye exam involves a series of tests designed to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases. Your doctor may use a variety of instruments, aim bright lights directly at your eyes, and request that you look through an array of lenses.
The eye exam usually begins with questions about your medical history and any vision problems you might be experiencing.
Next, your doctor will check your eyes with a light to see whether the exterior parts of your eyes are functioning correctly and whether there are any signs of injury or disease. Your eyes will also be tested for visual acuity- how well you see.
Causes/Risk Factors
Normal aging of the eye does not lead to low vision.
Low vision can be caused by eye injuries or by diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Low vision may also result from cancer of the eye, albinism, or a brain injury. If you have these disorders or are at risk for them, you are also at greater risk for low vision.
Regular medical eye exams by an Eye M.D. are important to diagnosing and treating eye diseases, and helping people with low vision enjoy all of their daily activities.
