What is Low Vision?

Low vision may be defined as insufficient vision to be able to do the things you want to do.


Is low vision the same as blindness?

NO! Blindness is a total lack of vision. Unfortunately, many people become confused because the government uses the term legally blind which they apply to some persons who have some usable vision. Most legally blind persons have some usable sight, but because the word blind is used to describe them, they are often mistaken for someone totally without sight. Low vision persons can use their sight unlike a totally blind person. The amount of sight and how it is used will vary from person to person who has low vision. If you have sight and function as a sighted person, the recommendation is that the word blind be avoided in any form except where absolutely necessary for legal reasons such as for government benefits.

Can any doctor help me if I have low vision?

Not all doctors are low vision vision specialists. In fact there are many excellent doctors who have a great deal of knowledge but who do not undertake the optical problems of the low vision patient. Going to a specialist particularly interested in this area will increase the chance of getting the maximum amount of help available.

Can a low vision specialist help me?

That depends upon many factors. The only way to be sure is to have a comprehensive low vision examination. Remember, a lot depends upon you - the low vision patient. You cannot be helped, no matter how good the doctor is, unless you want to be helped and put forth the necessary effort to obtain success. Also, you determine what constitutes success or failure. Success to one person may be failure to another. Listen carefully to what the doctors says he can do for you, and be certain that what he can do is what you really want.

How can I find a low vision specialist?

Though many doctors are not low vision specialists themselves, they can often direct you to a colleague or a clinic which provides low vision care. If not, the National Association for Visually Handicapped can, in most instance, refer you to a low vision specialist or clinic in your area.

How can low vision patients be helped?

The low vision specialist employs some extra examination techniques and used special lenses and low vision aids.

What are low vision aids?

Low vision aids are devices which help people use their sight to better advantage. These aids may be optical lenses, such as magnifiers or telescopes, or non-optical devices, such as visors, filters, reading slits, stands, lamps, and large print.

How do low vision aids work?

Low vision aids may make things larger or appear larger; they make things brighter; they may make things clearer; they may improve the contrast. Some aids do more than one of the above things, but generally, all low vision aids make it easier to see something.

Will using low vision aids cure my vision?

NO! Whether or not you use your aids will not affect the health of your eyes or cause eye disease to get better or worse. You will see better with your aids while you are using them. Low vision aids do not cure or restore your vision to normal sight.

Will I hurt my eyes if I use them?

Modern medical science believes that using your vision will not cause it to deteriorate. Using your eyes to se will not harm them anymore than using your ears to hear. In fact, using your eyes will train your brain to interpret what you are looking at more easily.

Will I hurt my eyes by reading in dim light or by holding the print too close?

NO! With many low vision optical aids you will have to be close to see clearly through the lens. This will not hurt your eyes at all, although being so close to see may seem awkward to you if you were accustomed to reading things at standard distances. Reading in dim light will not permanently damage your eyes, but it may cause eye fatigue, headaches, watering of the eyes or a combination. Remember, the further you are from a light, the less bright it will be. Be certain to select a comfortable amount of light, because extremely bright light can also cause eye fatigue.

Will viewing television too close harm my eyes?

Most doctors agree that there is little danger in sitting close to any television in good operating condition. There seems to be general agreement that sitting as close as on foot will not cause any harm.


Low Vision and Your Eyes

Low vision affects 20% of middle-aged adults, but often this condition can be treated or offset by new vision aids, say doctors at Low Vision Rehabilitation Center.
Low vision is the loss of sight that is not correctable with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Low vision does not include complete blindness because there is still some sight. Often low vision can be improved with the use of visual aids.

Low vision includes different degrees of sight loss from having blind spots, poor night vision, and problems with glare to almost a complete loss of sight. The American Optometrist Association defines low vision into two categories:

Partially sighted, meaning the person has visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 with conventional prescription lenses

Legally blind, meaning the person has visual acuity no better than 20/200 with conventional correction and/or a restricted field of vision less than 20 degrees wide. The ratio measurement of vision describes visual acuity, or the sharpness of vision, at 20 feet from an object. For example, having 20/70 vision means that you must be at 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 70 feet.

Anyone can be affected by low vision because it results from a variety of conditions and injuries. Because of age-related disorders like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, low vision is more common in adults over age 45 and still even more common in adults over age 75. One in six adults over age 45 have low vision; One in four adults over age 75 have low vision.

The most common types of low vision include:

Loss of central vision: A condition in which a blind spot in the center of one's vision

Loss of peripheral (side) vision: Inability to see anything to either side, above or below eye level. Central vision, however remains intact.

Night blindness: The inability to see in poorly lit areas such as a theater, as well as outside at night

Blurred vision: A condition in which object both near and far appear out of focus

Hazy vision: A condition in which the entire field of vision appears to be covered with a film or glare

What Causes Low Vision?

There may be one or more causes of low vision. Low vision is usually the result of disorders or injuries affecting the eye -- or a condition such as diabetes that affects the entire body. Some of the most common causes of low vision include: age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, and cataracts, but low vision may also result from cancer of the eye, albinism or a brain injury. If you have or are at risk of having these disorders, you are at an increased risk for having low vision.

How Is Low Vision Diagnosed?

An eye exam by your eye care specialist can diagnose low vision. You should make an appointment with your eye doctor if your vision difficulties are preventing you from daily activities like travel, cooking, work, and school. The tests the eye doctor will perform include the use of lighting, magnifiers, and special charts to help test visual acuity, depth perception, and visual field.

Can Low Vision Be Treated?

Some sight disorders, like diabetic retinopathy, can be treated to restore or maintain vision. When this is not possible, low vision is permanent. However, many people with low vision find visual aids helpful. Popular low vision aids include:

Telescopic glasses
Lenses that filter light
Magnifying glasses
Hand magnifiers
Closed-circuit television
Reading prisms

Non-optical aids designed for people with low vision are also very helpful.
Some popular non-optical devices include:

Text reading software
Check guides
High contrast clocks and watches
Talking watches and clocks
Large-print publications
Clocks, phones, and watches with enlarged numbers

Visual aids improve both sight and the quality of life for many people. Talk to your doctor about where to purchase visual aids.

Can Low Vision be Prevented?

Low vision may be preventable for patients with diabetes and reversible for those whose vision loss is caused by cataracts.
WHAT ARE EYE DISEASES?
Vision impairment and blindness is increasing at a rapid rate and according to most estimates, the number of people who will be severely visually impaired will double by the year 2020. More
IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE
Low Vision Rehabilitation Center’s caring environment and expertise helps visually impaired individuals to perform daily living tasks. More


So Easy To Use! Jordy II

The Jordy II combines mutiple low vision aids into one convenient device. It is battery-charged and easy to use. Featured on Good Morning America, the Jordy II has improved the vision and quality of life of millions of Low Vision Patients. Learn More!