What you should know about low vision

Watch the “How vision works” animation

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. This page is all about low vision and what patients can do to help themselves cope.

Millions of Americans lose some of their vision every year. Irreversible vision loss is most common among people over age 65.

Is losing vision just part of getting older?

No. Some normal changes in our eyes and vision occur as we get older. However, these changes usually don’t lead to low vision.

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 visual acuity that’s lost usually cannot be restored, many people can make the most of the vision they have.

Your eye care professional can tell the difference between normal changes in the aging eye and those caused by eye diseases and teach you about low vision.

How do I know if I have low vision?

There are many signs that can signal vision loss. For example, even with your regular glasses, do 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 the house?
• Picking out and matching the color of your clothes?
• Doing things at work or home because lights seem dimmer than they used to?
• Reading street and bus signs or the names of stores?

Vision changes like these could be early warning signs of eye disease. Usually, the earlier your problem is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment and keeping your remaining vision.

How do I know when to get an eye exam?

Regular dilated eye exams should be part of your routine health care. However, if you believe your vision has recently changed, you should see your eye care professional as soon as possible.

By making better use of their remaining vision, people can continue to enjoy doing important daily activities.

Watch the “How vision works” animation

What can I do if I have low vision?

Many people with low vision are taking charge. They want more information about low vision and devices and services that can help them keep their independence.

Talk with your eye care professional about low vision

It’s important to talk with your eye care professional about low vision problems. Even though it may be difficult, ask for help. Find out where you can get more information about low vision services and devices that can help you.

Many people require more than one visual device. They may need magnifying lenses for close-up viewing, and telescopic lenses for seeing in the distance. Some people may need to learn how to get around their neighborhoods.

If your eye care professional says, “Nothing more can be done about low vision in your case,” ask about low vision rehabilitation.

These programs offer a wide range of services, such as low vision evaluations and special training to use visual and adaptive devices. They also offer guidance for modifying your home as well as group support from others with low vision.

Investigate and learn

Be persistent. Remember that you are your best health advocate. Investigate and learn as much as you can, especially if you have been told that you may lose more vision. It is important that you ask questions about vision rehabilitation and get answers. Many resources are available to help you.

1. Write down questions about low vision to ask your doctor, or take a tape recorder with you.
2. Rehabilitation programs, devices, and technology can help you adapt to vision loss. They may help you keep doing many of the things you did before.
3. Know that you can make the difference in living with low vision.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about low vision, contact:

Your state or local rehabilitation agency for the blind and visually impaired.

American Academy of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94120-7424
(415) 561-8500
http://www.aao.org

 

American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
1-800-232-5463
(212) 502-7600
http://www.afb.org

 

American Optometric Association
243 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 991-4100
http://www.aoanet.org

 

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
1-800-733-2258

Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
1-800-334-5497
1-800-829-0500
http://www.lighthouse.org

 

National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 West 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-3141
http://www.navh.org

 

National Eye Institute, NIH
2020 Vision Place
Bethesda, MD 20892-3655
(301) 496-5248
http://www.nei.nih.gov

 

What can I do about low vision?

Although many people maintain good vision throughout their lifetimes, people over age 65 are at increased risk of developing low vision. You and your eye care professional or specialist in low vision need to work in partnership to achieve what is best for you. An important part of this relationship is good communication.

Here are some questions to ask your eye care professional or specialist about low vision to get the discussion started:

Questions about low vision to ask your eye care professional

• What changes can I expect in my vision?
• Will my vision loss get worse? How much of my vision will I lose?
• Will regular eyeglasses improve my vision?
• What medical/surgical treatments are available for my condition?
• What can I do to protect or prolong my vision?
• Will diet, exercise, or other lifestyle changes help?
• If my vision can’t be corrected, can you refer me to a specialist in low vision?
• Where can I get a low vision examination and evaluation? Where can I get vision rehabilitation?

Questions to ask your specialist about low vision

• How can I continue my normal, routine activities?
• Are there resources to help me in my job?
• Will any special devices help me with daily activities like reading, sewing, cooking, or fixing things around the house?
• What training and services are available to help me live better and more safely with low vision?
• Where can I find individual or group support to cope with my vision loss?

For more information about the NEI, contact:

National Eye Institute

2020 Vision Place

Bethesda, MD 20892-3655

Telephone: (301) 496-5248

E-mail: 2020@nei.nih.gov

Website: http://www.nei.nih.gov

Watch the “How vision works” animation

Courtesy of the National Eye Institute