Low Vision
Low vision is a term used to describe partial sight - sight that is
not correctable with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery.
Low vision includes varying degrees of sight loss, from blind spots,
poor night vision and tunnel vision to almost total blindness. It may
refer to difficulty distinguishing colors or impaired space perception.
There are two categories of low vision: partially sighted, in which
a person has vision between 20/70 and 20/200 with conventional prescription
lenses; and legally blind, which refers to people with vision no better
than 20/200 with a conventional prescription and/or a restricted field
of vision less than 20 degrees wide.
Although low vision can affect persons of any age, it is most commonly
a problem among older adults. A number of conditions and injuries can
cause low vision. Age-related disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts
and macular degeneration, often result in low vision. The incidence
of these conditions increases with age, resulting in low vision in one
in four adults over the age of 75. However, low vision can also affect
younger adults suffering from diseases, such as diabetes, or injuries
to the eye, head or brain.
Per its definition, low vision cannot be cured or corrected. However,
numerous visual aids, both optical (telescopic glasses and hand magnifiers)
and non-optical (text reading software and large-print publications),
can make life easier for persons living with low vision.
For more information on low vision, we can help. Select
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Low Vision Topics
Low Vision, Low Vision Aids
