low vision
Low vision is a term commonly used among eye care professionals to mean partial sight, or sight that isn't fully
correctable with surgery, pharmaceuticals, contact lenses or glasses.
Low vision includes moderate vision impairment, such as tunnel vision or blind spots. It also includes legal
blindness and almost total blindness.
Causes
Low vision has a variety of causes, including eye injury, diseases and heredity. Sometimes low vision involves a
lack of acuity, meaning that objects appear blurred. Other times, it involves a reduced ability to distinguish colors,
see contrasts or determine spatial relationships among objects.
The eyesight of a person with low vision may be hazy from cataracts, blurred or partially obscured in the central
visual zone because of macular degeneration or distorted and/or blurred from diabetic retinopathy. Also, people
with glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa can lose their peripheral vision and have difficulty seeing at night.
Adults and employment
Children and adults can be visually impaired, sometimes as a result of a birth defect or an injury. But low vision
is mostly a problem that afflicts seniors. Vision loss can be very traumatic, leading to frustration and depression.
Many people who develop eye problems that cause low vision lose their jobs. According to Lighthouse
International, among visually impaired Americans of ages 21 to 64, only 43.7% are employed. Among normally-
sighted people in this age group, 80% are employed.
Children
When a child has severe vision problems, it is very important to visit a low vision doctor like Dr. Dodge who can
prescribe the most appropriate vision aids. Ignoring a child's visual needs will result in poor performance in
school.
Independence
Not being able to drive safely, read quickly, or easily see images on a television or computer screen can cause
people with low vision to feel shut off from the world. They may be unable to get around town independently, earn
a living or even shop for food and other necessities. Some visually impaired people become completely
dependent on friends and relatives, while others suffer alone.
That's a shame, because many ingenious low vision devices and strategies exist to help people overcome
vision impairment and live independently.
Knowing the signs and taking action
If you have hazy or blurred vision, light sensitivity, loss of peripheral vision, night blindness, a need for more light
than before, color confusion, unusual floaters or spots or difficulty in reading — your first step is to see an
eyecare professional such as Dr. Dodge for a complete exam.
These could be the first signs of a serious eye disease such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or retinitis
pigmentosa. Or, they could mean you are developing a cataract that needs removal. Whatever the case, it's wise
to take action before further vision loss occurs.
Dr. Dodge can evaluate the degree and type of vision loss you have, prescribe appropriate low vision aids such
as magnifiers, telescopes and video magnifiers, and help you learn how to use low vision aids. He can also
recommend non-optical adaptive devices, such as large-face printed material, audio tapes, special light fixtures
and signature guides for signing checks and documents. If appropriate, he can also refer you to a counselor to
help you cope with your loss of vision.
Low vision is a term commonly used among eye care professionals to mean partial sight, or sight that isn't fully
correctable with surgery, pharmaceuticals, contact lenses or glasses.
Low vision includes moderate vision impairment, such as tunnel vision or blind spots. It also includes legal
blindness and almost total blindness.
Causes
Low vision has a variety of causes, including eye injury, diseases and heredity. Sometimes low vision involves a
lack of acuity, meaning that objects appear blurred. Other times, it involves a reduced ability to distinguish colors,
see contrasts or determine spatial relationships among objects.
The eyesight of a person with low vision may be hazy from cataracts, blurred or partially obscured in the central
visual zone because of macular degeneration or distorted and/or blurred from diabetic retinopathy. Also, people
with glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa can lose their peripheral vision and have difficulty seeing at night.
Adults and employment
Children and adults can be visually impaired, sometimes as a result of a birth defect or an injury. But low vision
is mostly a problem that afflicts seniors. Vision loss can be very traumatic, leading to frustration and depression.
Many people who develop eye problems that cause low vision lose their jobs. According to Lighthouse
International, among visually impaired Americans of ages 21 to 64, only 43.7% are employed. Among normally-
sighted people in this age group, 80% are employed.
Children
When a child has severe vision problems, it is very important to visit a low vision doctor like Dr. Dodge who can
prescribe the most appropriate vision aids. Ignoring a child's visual needs will result in poor performance in
school.
Independence
Not being able to drive safely, read quickly, or easily see images on a television or computer screen can cause
people with low vision to feel shut off from the world. They may be unable to get around town independently, earn
a living or even shop for food and other necessities. Some visually impaired people become completely
dependent on friends and relatives, while others suffer alone.
That's a shame, because many ingenious low vision devices and strategies exist to help people overcome
vision impairment and live independently.
Knowing the signs and taking action
If you have hazy or blurred vision, light sensitivity, loss of peripheral vision, night blindness, a need for more light
than before, color confusion, unusual floaters or spots or difficulty in reading — your first step is to see an
eyecare professional such as Dr. Dodge for a complete exam.
These could be the first signs of a serious eye disease such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or retinitis
pigmentosa. Or, they could mean you are developing a cataract that needs removal. Whatever the case, it's wise
to take action before further vision loss occurs.
Dr. Dodge can evaluate the degree and type of vision loss you have, prescribe appropriate low vision aids such
as magnifiers, telescopes and video magnifiers, and help you learn how to use low vision aids. He can also
recommend non-optical adaptive devices, such as large-face printed material, audio tapes, special light fixtures
and signature guides for signing checks and documents. If appropriate, he can also refer you to a counselor to
help you cope with your loss of vision.
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