Over three million people in the United States do not have normal vision even with corrective lenses. If ordinary eyeglasses do not provide clear vision, one is said to have low vision. This should not be confused with blindness. People with low vision still have useful vision that can be often improved with low-vision devices.
Low vision can result from birth defects, inherited diseases, injuries, diabetes, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. Although reduced central or reading vision is most common, a person can have low vision in their side (peripheral) vision, or a loss of color vision or contact sensitivity. The most common ocular diseases that cause low vision are macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Devices or aides are available in optical and non-optical types. Optical devices use lenses to provide magnification. They should not be confused with standard eyeglasses. The goal of a low vision examination is to determine which low vision aid (either optical or non-optical) will work best to provide the greatest functional vision for the patient through magnification. The most popular low vision devices available at Center for Sight include:
- Hand-held magnifiers (low to high powered)
- Stand magnifiers
- Closed circuit television-provides high-powered electronic magnification
- Hand-held electronic magnification
- Telescopes
After obtaining low vision devices, it is important to be trained on how to properly utilize them. The specialized recommendations of a low vision eye care professional and the training on low vision devices allows for enhanced functional vision for patients with all types of ocular diseases, even severe.