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Low Vision Page
What is Low Vision?
Low vision means partial vision or sight that cannot be corrected by surgery or glasses.
A person with low vision has severely reduced visual acuity (ability to perceive detail) or an
obstructed field of vision, or both.
This condition may interfere with activities of daily living such as reading standard print,
watching the television and driving a car. Many people with low vision have some usable vision.
Many devices are available to help individuals with low vision use the vision they have. These
devices include things like magnifying glasses, video screen magnifiers, and telescopes for
distance viewing.
What causes Low Vision?
Low vision has many causes. It can be the result of an injury, a disease or heredity. Low vision
can occur in people of any age, but is most common among the elderly.
The four leading causes of low vision are
- Macular Degeneration – Macular Degeneration results from damage to the macula (the central part
of the retina), which is responsible for central vision and the ability to see detail. It is the
leading cause of low vision among people over 50.
- Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a disease where pressure within the eye is so high that it can damage
the optic nerve. This can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although Glaucoma cannot be
prevented, many times it can be controlled with medical treatment.
- Diabetic Retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina.
It is a complication of diabetes. The risk for developing diabetic retinopathy increases with the
length of time a person has diabetes. It is important to detect this problem early because there
are effective treatments.
- Cataract – Cataracts cause the clouding of the lens of the eye. Light can no longer pass
through the lens easily. Vision becomes blurry and hazy. Cataracts can now be effectively
treated with surgery that replaces the lens with a man-made lens.
Where to get more information
My Story:
I have had low vision since birth.
It is sometimes difficult for me to explain my vision to others because I have nothing to
compare it to. The best I can do is tell you what doctors have told me.
Evidently the rods and cones in my eyes never developed like they were supposed to.
The result of this is that I am legally blind. For me, this means that I have a lack
of depth perception, I have sensitivity to light and I am colorblind. I can not see
things that are far away, and I can not see things close up if they are small. But
all of this is normal to me.
I am married and have two teenage children.
I work full time at CILNM in the Duluth office. I think one of the most frustrating
things I deal with is not being able to drive. Transportation issues seem to come up on a
regular basis both at work and at home. My children are getting very good at finding
themselves rides to the various activities they participate in. At work, I have made
accommodations for not being able to drive. For example, I am becoming very familiar with
public transportation. I also frequently request that people meet me in the office rather
than in their homes.
Assistive technology is extremely helpful to people
with low vision. I use magnifying glasses to read small print. I have a large computer
monitor that allows me to make print large enough for me to see. I use binoculars (or a
monocular) in order to see faraway objects. I think the most important piece of adaptive
technology I use is my sunglasses. They are just ordinary dark sunglasses, but without them,
I would not be able to see at all outside.
If you have any questions, or would like other
low vision information...
email roberta@accessnorth.net
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