Are you aware of your eyesight and whether it’s functioning at capacity? The gradual loss of vision produces a condition called low vision. This means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, people with low vision find everyday tasks difficult to do. For example, reading the mail, cooking, watching TV and writing can all be difficult to accomplish. For those with low vision, even when the lights are on, they feel dimmer than normal, colors are harder to distinguish and traffic signs or billboards may appear blurry. The sooner vision loss or eye disease is detected by an eye care professional, the better are the chances of retaining whatever vision remains.
Millions of Americans lose some of their sight every year. While vision loss can affect anyone at any age, low vision is most common for those over age 65. Low vision, or partial sight, is usually caused by eye diseases or health conditions and can have an impact on people of all ages. Some of these include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetes and glaucoma. Eye injuries and birth defects are some other causes. Whatever the cause, lost vision generally cannot be restored. It can be managed, however, with proper treatment and vision rehabilitation.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for individuals age 50 and older. It is a progressive, usually painless disease that affects the macula, the spot on the retina at the back of the eye responsible for central vision. Macular degeneration causes central vision to blur but leaves peripheral vision intact. In its earliest stages, AMD can be difficult to diagnose, and in some cases, the disease progresses so slowly that many do not notice a change in their vision. Other cases are quite the opposite and deterioration is so rapid that it can seem to happen overnight.
Symptoms of AMD
Although many who develop AMD do not experience any other symptoms, there may be some things to be aware of and warrant an evaluation from an eye care professional:
Be aware
Although February has been designated “low vision awareness month,” we should pay attention to our eyesight on a regular basis. If low vision is suspected, a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist should do an evaluation. A low vision examination differs from routine eye exams in that it includes a review of your visual and medical history, places an emphasis on the vision needed to read, cook, work, travel and perform common activities.
Although the low vision examination takes much longer than a typical eye exam, the information gained can be invaluable to understand any diagnosis or to maintain healthy eyes. Magnification devices, electronic devices, computer-access software and other access and mainstream technologies are used to help people with low vision to utilize their remaining sight and to learn alternative ways of doing things. These may include using their sense of touch or their sense of hearing.
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