Low Vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, people find everyday tasks difficult to do. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, seeing the TV and writing can seem challenging.
Millions of adults loss some of their vision every year. Irreversible vision loss is most common among people over age 65.
Most people develop Low Vision because of eye diseases and health conditions like Macular Degeneration, Cataract, Glaucoma and Diabetes. A few people develop vision loss after eye injuries or from birth defects. While vision that’s lost usually cannot be restored, many people can make the most of their remaining vision. Your eye care professional can tell the difference between normal changes in the aging eye and those caused by eye diseases.
There are many signs that can signal vision loss. For instance, even with corrective glasses or contacts you have difficulty recognizing faces of friends and relatives, doing things that require you to see well up close, like reading, cooking, sewing or fixing things around your home. Perhaps picking out and matching the color of your clothing becomes a challange, or feeling like your home lighting seems dimmer than it used to. And also reading street and bus signs, or the names on storefronts, is difficult.
Vision changes like these could be early warning signs of eye disease. Usually, the earlier your problem is diagnosed, the better your chance of successful treatment and keeping your remaining vision.
It’s important to visit an eye care professional, for a dialated eye exam regularly. If your doctor diagnoses an eye disease that limits your vision, know that there is professional help available from ABVI. Your doctor can make a referrral to our Low Vision clinic and Rehabilitation Services even as he/she continues to care for your eye health.