Low vision affects people at school, on the job, and at home. It
makes daily activities, like reading, writing, watching television and
walking, very difficult.
Examination by your eye doctor may indicate the need for early
treatment of vision problems or low vision rehabilitation. Symptoms of
low vision may include:
- Blurred Vision: Objects appear out of focus. Causes include macular degeneration, diabetes, corneal disease and/or cataracts.
- Central Field Loss: A dark or hazy patch appears in the center of objects. Causes include macular degeneration and optic atrophy.
- Contrast Loss and Glare Problems: Objects blend
with background; lights are distracting or uncomfortable. Causes
include glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease and albinism.
- Multiple Field Loss: Dark patches are scattered around objects. Causes include diabetes, glaucoma, retinal detachment and trauma.
- Distortion: Objects appear out of shape, crooked,
deformed, wavy or doubled. Causes include macular degeneration,
dia-betes and retinal detachment.
- Tunnel Vision: Objects in the center of the field
of vision are visible; objects on the sides are missing. Causes include
glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and stroke.
Low Vision Adaptive Devices And Techniques
The
American Optometric Association Low Vision Section reports that between
four and ten million Americans have "functional vision loss," that
keeps them from performing daily activities without assistance.
Unfortunately, only one quarter of these people get the help they need
to live more independently. Low vision rehabilitation allows people to
lead a more productive and enjoyable lifestyle.
A Low Vision Rehabilitative service performs comprehensive
evaluations and prescribes treatment options. These eye doctors teach
people with low vision how to use adaptive devices and techniques to
indepen-dently perform work, school, and other daily activities.
Devices and techniques include:
- Prescription Magnifying Eyeglasses and Microscopes that are portable and assist with reading
- Prescription Eyeglasses that may have filters to reduce glare and increase contrast
- Hand Magnifiers that can be used on their own or with glasses to increase print size
- Electronic Systems, such as closed circuit televisions (also called
CCTVs or video magnifiers) that enlarge print for reading and writing
- Miniature Telescopes which are useful for seeing long distances and can be held or mounted on a pair of glasses
- Rehabilitation Teaching/ Orientation and Mobility Training
instructs people how to perform routine daily activities on their own.
