7/19/13

Low Vision - A Complete Guide from AllAboutVision.com

Low Vision Guide

By Liz Se gre

What is low vision? Basically, "low vision" describes significant visual impairment that can't be corrected fully with glasses, contact lenses, medication or eye surgery. It includes: Loss of best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA) to worse than 20/70 in the better eye. Significant visual field loss. Tunnel vision (lack of vision in the periphery) and blind spots are examples of visual field loss. Legal blindness. In North America this is 20/200 or less central visual acuity in the better eye with best possible correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Almost total blindness. In 2010 the prevalence of visual disability in the United States was 2.1 percent. This includes both low vision and total blindness. MORE LOW VISION ARTICLES

Buyer's guide to low vision magnifiers Low vision aids for closeup tasks and reading Distance vision aids New low vision products Using a computer Finding a low vision doctor

Causes of Low Vision

Eye diseases are a common cause of low vision: Hazy, blurry vision can result from cataracts. Blurred or partially obscured central vision is typical of macular degeneration. Diabetic retinopathy causes blind spots, blurriness and visual distortions. Poor peripheral vision is a hallmark of glaucoma.

Retinitis pigmentosa reduces peripheral vision and the ability to see in the dark. Light sensitivity and loss of contrast are other symptoms of these and other diseases. Heredity and eye injuries also can result in low vision.

The Impact of Low Vision

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7/19/13

Low Vision - A Complete Guide from AllAboutVision.com

You can use the versatile A crobat LCD video magnifier from Enhanced Vision for reading, writing and self-viewing. Please click here for a closeup view.

Children as well as adults can be visually impaired, sometimes because of a birth defect or an injury. Children with low vision may have problems in learning concepts, and they need special instruction from their earliest years on. They also need additional help with socialization among other children and adults. But low vision more commonly affects adults and seniors. Their vision loss can be very traumatic, leading to frustration and depression. Losing the ability to drive safely, read quickly, watch television or view a computer screen can cause people with low vision to feel shut off from the world. They may be unable to get around town independently or shop for food and other necessities. Many people with low vision also have difficulty making a living, as the following statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey of 2010 illustrate: In 2010 the employment rate for visually disabled Americans ages 21-64 (working age) was only 37.2 percent. The full-time/full-year employment rate was 24 percent. And of those without a job, only 13.5 percent were actively looking for work. The median annual income of households including any working-age visually disabled person was $33,400, versus $59,400 for households with no disabled people of working age. Individual poverty rates were 29.5 percent for visually disabled people vs. 11.9 percent of those with no disability. Some visually impaired people become very dependent on friends and relatives, while others suffer alone. That's a shame, because many ingenious low vision devices are available to help people overcome vision impairment and live independently.

What To Do About Low Vision

If you have a vision impairment that interferes with your ability to perform everyday activities and enjoy life, your first step is to see an eye care professional for a complete eye exam. Poor vision that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses could be the first sign of a serious eye disease such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa. Or it could mean you are developing a cataract that needs removal. Whatever the case, it's wise to take action before further vision loss occurs.
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If your eye doctor finds that you have vision

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Low Vision - A Complete Guide from AllAboutVision.com

If your eye doctor finds that you have vision loss that cannot be corrected adequately with standard eyewear, medical treatment or surgery, he or she will help you take the next steps toward coping with your new situation. An eye doctor who doesn't work in the low vision arena would refer you to a low vision specialist. A low vision specialist can evaluate the degree and type of vision loss you have, prescribe appropriate low vision aids such as lighted handheld magnifiers, digital desktop magnifiers and bioptic telescopes, and help you learn how to use them. Newer options include handheld digital magnifiers for shopping or eating out, as well as software that simplifies computer use with magnification and text-to-speech features. The low vision specialist also can recommend non-optical adaptive devices, such as largeface printed material, audio recordings, special light fixtures and signature guides for signing checks and documents. Special eyewear with tinted UV filters can help with light sensitivity and heighten contrast.

LOW VISION NEWS

Braille Smartphone to Launch This Year May 2013 Technology designer Sumit Dagar has come up with a great idea for the visually impaired: a Braille smartphone. Dagar has been working on a prototype with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and the phone may be ready for market by the end of this year.

For more details, watch the brief video (above) by Adam Falk of Mashable.

If necessary, your specialist or eye doctor also can refer you to a mental health professional and/or mobility coach to help you cope with your vision loss.
Note s & R e source s >> W hat You Ne e d to Know About Low Vision. Am e rican Foundation for the Blind we bsite . Acce sse d August 2012. 2010 Disability Status R e port: Unite d State s. C orne ll Unive rsity Em ploym e nt and Disability Institute . [Page update d May 2013]

Link Colors: Gre e n = glossary te rm s, Blue = othe r page s All About Vision is a re giste re d se rvice m ark of Acce ss Me dia Group LLC . 2000-2013 Acce ss Me dia Group LLC . 670 m illion pe ople worldwide are blind or visually im paire d sim ply be cause the y don't have acce ss to an e ye e x am and e ye glasse s. All About Vision is a Gold National Sponsor of the e fforts of O ptom e try Giving Sight to e lim inate avoidable blindne ss due to uncorre cte d re fractive e rror. W e also e ncourage our re ade rs to conside r supporting the se hum anitarian e ye care organizations . W e com ply with the HO Ncode standard for trustworthy he alth inform ation . C lick he re to ve rify our com pliance . Te x t and im age s on this we bsite are copyright prote cte d and re production is prohibite d by law. You m ay print or e m ail page s for pe rsonal use . R e ad our policy.

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