| Low
Vision
If ordinary eyeglasses,
contact lenses or intraocular lens implants don't give you
clear vision, you are said to have low vision, and your
vision does not meet your needs. This condition shouldn't be
confused with blindness because people with low vision still
retain vision that can often be improved with visual
devises. Low vision is most often a condition of the
elderly, but people of all ages can be affected. This
condition can result from birth defects, inherited diseases,
injuries, diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular
degeneration. Reduced central or reading vision is the most
common type of low vision, but the condition can also affect
peripheral or color vision. Some patients lose the ability
to adjust to light, contrast or glare. Different types of
low vision may require different kinds of visual assistance.
Physicians at The Eye Clinic
have experience in diagnosing and providing assistance to
patients with low vision in the form of specialized visual
devises. A low vision devise included optical and
non-optical tools that improves vision. Optical low vision
devises use lenses or a combination of lenses to provide
magnifications. These are very different from standard
eyeglasses and include:
- Magnifying spectacles
- Hand magnifiers
- Stand magnifiers
- Telescopes
- Closed-circuit television
Non-optical low vision tools
include:
- Large-print books,
newspapers and magazines
- Check-writing guides
- Large playing cards
- Enlarged telephone dials
- High-contrast watch faces
- Machines that talk
(timers, clocks, computers)
- Machines that scan print
and read aloud
Correct lighting is as
important as a low vision devise. People with low vision may
need twice the illumination as a person with normal vision.
A complete eye exam by an
experienced ophthalmologist is essential for an accurate
diagnosis of low vision. Once the cause of your low vision
is determined, your physician can make recommendations for
assistive devises to aid your vision. |
