Low Vision is a vision problem that makes it hard to do everyday activities. It cannot be fixed with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other standard treatments like medicine or surgery. You may have low vision if you cannot see well enough to do things such as read, drive, recognize people’s faces, tell colors apart or see your television or computer screen clearly. The type of low vision that you have depends on the disease or condition that caused your low vision. The most common types of low vision are:
- Central vision loss (not being able to see things in the center of your vision)
- Peripheral vision loss (not being able to see things out of the corners of your eyes)
- Night blindness (not being able to see in low light)
- Blurry or hazy vision
The most common causes are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy (a condition that can cause vision loss in people with diabetes) and glaucoma. Low vision is more common in older adults because many of the diseases that cause it are more common in older adults. Aging, however, does not cause low vision on its own. Eye and brain injuries and certain genetic disorders can also cause low vision.
Unfortunately, low vision is usually permanent, but if your loss is minor, you may be able to make small changes to help yourself see better, such as using brighter lights at home or work, wearing anti-glare sunglasses and using a magnifying lens for reading and other up-close activities. Be sure to stay in contact with a vision specialist for the most up-to-date information and resources.