Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be fully corrected with regular eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery. Despite all conventional treatment, vision remains blurred or distorted, and it interferes with the ability to perform every day activities such as reading, writing, and shopping. Millions of Americans lose some of their vision every year due to a variety of eye conditions such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration or Retinitis Pigmentosa. If you are among the growing number of people living with low vision,you can still live independently with the help of low vision aids.
Eye Conditions
Macular Degeneration
Macular
Degeneration is a medical condition often associated with aging (also referred
to as “age-related Macular Degeneration”) that results in a loss of vision in
the centre of your visual field. Central vision helps us to see objects clearly
and perform tasks such as reading and driving.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
is an eye condition in which the optic nerve is damaged, causing vision loss.
The optic nerve is located at the back of the eye and transmits the images we
see to the brain for interpretation. Glaucoma results in progressive damage to
the optic nerve, which almost always begins with a subtle loss of peripheral
(side) vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic
Retinopathy is a complication brought on by diabetes where the retina, the
lightsensitive tissue that lines the inner surface of the eye, is damaged.
Diabetes causes abnormal changes in the body’s blood sugar levels. High levels
of blood sugar can alter the blood flow to the body’s organs, including the
eyes.
Cataract
A
cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. Our eyes’ lens is mainly made
up of water and protein. The proteins are arranged in such a way that the lens
stays clean and light is able to pass through. As we grow older, some of these
proteins may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is
a cataract.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis
Pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions causing progressive degeneration
of the retina, the light sensitive layer of tissue lining the back of the eye.
The light receptors of the retina are called rods and cones. As a result of
Retinitis Pigmentosa the rods, and in a later stage the cones, slowly die,
causing reduced vision.
Blindness
Blindness
is the state of being sightless. A blind individual is unable to see. Some may
have a limited ability to see objects using special aids or may be able to
perceive light or a light source. All people who are blind experience
sightlessness to various degrees. Blindness can be the result of a variety of
causes.
Strabismus
Strabismus
is an eye condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly and point in
different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other may turn
inward, outward, downward or upward. The manner in which the eye turns may be
consistent or it may vary. Which eye is straight and which eye turns may also
differ.
Ocular Tumors
Ocular
tumors are tumors inside the eye. They do not occur frequently, but when they
do, they will often grow on the coloured part of the eye, called the iris, or in
the back of the eye. Left untreated, ocular tumors can not only threaten your
vision, but also your life.
Nystagmus
Nystagmus
is an uncontrolled and involuntary movement of the eyes. The movement is often
side to side (horizontal) but it can also be up and down (vertical) or circular
(rotary). The movement can vary between slow and fast and almost always involves
both eyes.
LHON
Leber's
Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a genetic eye disease which leads to a
sudden loss of central vision. While the condition usually emerges in a person's
teens or twenties, rare cases may appear in early childhood or later adulthood.
For unknown reasons men are more affected than women.
