In honor of February being Low Vision Awareness Month, let’s dig deeper into what Low Vision means, what causes it and how to manage it.
What is Low Vision?
Low Vision is the condition of having impaired vision that cannot be corrected by glasses, surgery or medication.
While Low Vision affects millions of Americans, it is more common in older adults because many of the diseases that can cause it are more common among that age group. These diseases include age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetes.
You might have Low Vision if you can’t see well enough to do activities such as:
- Read
- Drive
- Recognize people’s faces
- Tell colors apart
- See your television or computer screen clearly
If you think you might have Low Vision, visit your eye care provider for a comprehensive eye exam, which can be scheduled easily using EyeMed’s Provider Locator.
What are ways to manage Low Vision?
Low Vision doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite activities – you just might have to learn new ways of doing them. If your eye doctor diagnoses you with Low Vision, there are ways to manage it:
- Use brighter lights at home or work.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce light glare.
- Use a magnifier. For example, HumanWare offers electronic solutions to help those with living with sight loss read, write, and perform daily tasks.
- Ask your eye care provider about vision rehabilitation.