Low Vision
Low vision is a term that refers to vision 20/70 or worse that cannot be fully corrected by glasses or contact lenses. People with low vision fall into two groups: partially sighted (meaning they have a visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 with the aid of corrective lenses), or legally blind (meaning vision is no better than 20/200 with regular correction aids).
What Causes Low Vision?
The most common cause for low vision is macular degeneration, a disease of the sensory retina. However, there are a wide variety of causes of low vision, including:
- Birth defects
- Inherited diseases
- Injuries
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Aging
Symptoms of Low Vision
A thorough eye examination is needed to diagnose causes of low vision. People with low vision may experience the following symptoms:
- Loss of central vision
- Night blindness
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Blurred vision
- Hazy vision
Treatments for Low Vision
Low vision cannot be fully corrected. However, there are a wide array of devices to help people with low vision, including magnifiers and reading prisms, large-print reading materials, high-contrast watches, and machines that talk.
