Causes of Low Vision

14 de febrero de 2022

3 min de lectura

Low vision affects an estimated 4 million people each year in the United States alone. Although this disease can be life-altering, there is currently no known cure for low vision, and treatment options depend on the disease process causing decreased vision.

What is low vision?

Low vision is classified as an eye disease making it increasingly difficult to complete daily activities without assistance from another person. Commonly disrupted activities include reading, driving a vehicle, differentiating between colors, recognizing faces, or being able to clearly see the television, phone screen, or computer screen.

Types of low vision

The type of low vision a person may experience depends upon the disease process causing the visual disturbances. Common types of low vision include:

Central vision loss: this type of low vision affects what a person can see within the center of their vision
Peripheral vision loss: peripheral vision allows a person to see things out of the corner of their eye. Therefore, peripheral vision loss alters the area of vision someone can see.
Night blindness: night blindness leaves a person unable to efficiently see at night or in low-lit areas.
Blurred vision: blurred vision leaves a person experiencing an unclear vision, especially when reading or using a computer.

What causes low vision?

Vision disturbances such as low vision can occur for several reasons, whether it be a congenital disease (a disease present at birth), an inherited disease (a disease passed through family history), or an acquired disease (a disease that develops after birth). Frequently reported causes of low vision include:

Congenital diseases

Optic nerve hypoplasia
Cataract
Glaucoma

Inherited diseases

Retinitis pigmentosa
Optic atrophy

Acquired diseases

Glaucoma
Eye injury
Retinopathy due to premature birth
Cerebral vision impairment resulting from brain damage

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease process affecting nearly 3 million Americans — many of whom do not know they have this disease until it has progressed as it does not produce symptoms in the early stages. Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision loss or, in some cases, total blindness Glaucoma is diagnosed through a comprehensive dilated eye exam by a licensed ophthalmologist and glaucoma-specific vision and eye health tests.

AMD occurs as a result of damage or degeneration to the macula with age. The macula is a critical part of the eye that is responsible for straight-ahead, sharp vision. When this part of the eye becomes damaged or diseased, a person’s central vision becomes increasingly blurred.

Cataract

A cataract is an eye disease that results in clouded vision and is more common with age. In fact, more than half of Americans over the age of 80 years old either have a cataract or have had surgery to correct a cataract.

Diabetic retinopathy

A person with diabetes is at an increased risk of developing harmful diseases including diabetic retinopathy. This disease of the eyes causes low vision and can lead to permanent blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is the result of a damaged retina or damaged blood vessels within the eye affecting a person’s vision.

Living with low vision

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with a disease leaving you with low vision? While many of these diseases have no cure, treatment is available to help enhance your daily life and give you back the freedom you once had!

Popular options for low vision aids include:

Light filtering lenses
Magnifying or telescopic glasses
A hand magnifier
Reading prisms

Low vision in diabetic patients may be prevented with routine eye exams and ensuring their diabetes remains controlled. However, many types of low vision are not preventable, such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Although not preventable, there are many treatment options available to significantly slow the disease process and vision disturbances.

Routine eye exams are crucial in allowing early detection of many ocular diseases and early intervention greatly reduces the progression of these life-changing diseases. Low vision can be scary, but relief is possible to help give you your life back.

Learn More About Low Vision

Explore the Healthread app today to connect with other people like you who may be living with low vision and have learned ways to adapt.

Sources

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