Low Vision Treatment
Low vision is a form of vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contacts and surgery. It cannot be confused with permanent vision loss as in this case, a remnant of limited sight remains.
Types of Low Vision:
The most common types of low vision include,
- Blurred vision
- Central Vision loss
- Contrast difficulty and discomfort
- Night blindness
- Peripheral vision loss
- Depth Perception difficulty
Causes of Low Vision:
There are many causes of low vision, but the most common risks include:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
Older adults are at more risk for being affected by low vision, though ageing doesn’t cause low vision on its own. Certain genetic disorders and eye & brain injuries can also cause low vision.
Treatments Offered:
Types of treatment for low vision can include.
Vision Aids: As low vision is a difficult condition to treat and to make things easier for you, your doctor might recommend some popular vision aids to get through your day-to-day life. You can incorporate these devices into your daily routine to carry on with regular tasks. The most common vision aids include,
- Telescopic glasses.
- Light filtering lenses
- Magnifying glasses.
- Hand magnifiers.
- Closed-circuit television.
- Reading prisms.
Some non-optical aids can be very helpful, such as text reading software, Check guides, High-contrast clocks and watches, Talking watches and clocks, Large print publications, Clocks, phones and watches with enlarged numbers.
Can Low Vision be Prevented?
Low vision is preventable for some patients with diabetes. Some patients with glaucoma or macular degeneration can also be treated to prevent further vision loss.
Living with Low Vision:
Living with low vision can be challenging and some measures to improve your vision in your house and your surroundings that make things easier for you to get used to vision loss and regain a sense of normalcy. These include,
- Using brighter lights at home or work
- Wearing anti-glare sunglasses
- Using a magnifying lens for reading and other activities that might need close vision focus.
- Set up your home so you can move around easily
- Gathering and sharing resources that help you cope with your vision loss.