Low Vision

Low vision is a condition in which the visual acuity or visual field is decreased to the point where glasses, contacts, or medical treatments cannot correct it to the level for which people can still do normal daily activities.

Table of Contents

Understand Low Vision (What is LV?)

There is no hard rule for what actually qualifies as low vision. As stated above if a person has an inability to see well enough to do daily activities it could be considered low vision. So a person that has 20/20 acuity but has poor contrast sensitivity which makes it difficult to read could be what is considered low vision. Where as a person with 20/30 acuity and has no issues in daily life is not considered low vision visual acuity. When we define blindness and low vision the two are quite different. Although those that are legally blind most likely have low vision the opposite is not always the case. To be legally blind means that your better seeing eye is only capable of being corrected with glasses or contacts to 20/200. What this means is that the visually impaired person has to be at a minimum of 20 feet away to see an object that a normal seeing person can be 200 feet away from. Another limitation may be the visual field, it is also considered legal blindness if the field of view is only 20 degrees. A normal seeing person has at least a 140 degrees of visual field.

Oftentimes a person may have vision loss that is substantial in one eye from diseases such as macular degeneration. So the central vision may be partially or even completely gone in that eye. However if the other eye still functions normally and the patient can still see the things needed for normal daily activities then that person does not have what is low vision. Most of the time the brain will filter out the blur from the bad eye and use the input from the better eye. Unfortunately for some that isn’t always the case. In some cases the vision may just be blurred and it is combined with the clear vision of the other eye. This is a summation effect which causes the overall vision to be decreased and may end up being considered what is low vision.

Prevention of Low Vision

To prevent Low vision is to prevent vision loss. Most vision loss comes from a few common eye diseases. Having regular eye exams will aid in the early detection of these common diseases. Regular physicals and check ups with your primary care physician is of great importance also. They will check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and most importantly your blood sugar. If these three things are uncontrolled the trifecta can be devastating to ocular and health.

The primary things to do to keep your eyes healthy is to keep your body healthy. Maintain a healthy body weight. Which will help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars under control. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables helps to prevent low vision conditions like macular degeneration. Omega 3’s from fish is also one of the best things for your body. It fights inflammation which is a leading cause of many diseases.

Quit smoking! If you’re a smoker you are at least 4 times more likely to develop macular degeneration, it contributes to cataracts and can lead to glaucoma. It causes hardening of the arteries and increases blood pressure.

Protect your eyes. If you work or play in conditions where you could possibly damage your eyes, wear your eye protection. If you weld or grind metal protective shields and filters should be used. If you are active in sports, safety glasses or goggles should be worn.

Good hygiene when you’re a contact lens wearer is imperative. Avoiding serious eye infections is also how to prevent low vision. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses. Properly disinfecting and replacing your contacts is also very important in prevention of low vision.

Prevention of Low Vision and workplace safety go hand in hand. It is an employer’s responsibility to provide a safe work environment. Protective eyewear should always be worn in conditions that warrant it. You should make it a habit to always yours and encourage coworkers to also do so. This is not only a great way to prevent low vision and eye related injuries but to also avoid costly insurance claims and loss of productivity due to employees injuries and time of work.

Low Vision Statistics

Who are those suffering from low vision?

Globally

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that globally according to the (WHO) World Health Organization there are at least 2.2 billion people that are either blind or visually impaired. 1 billion of those people have vision loss that was preventable or is still to be treated.The most common causes of these visual impairments are cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Children and students

Approximately 568,000 kids in the United States have some form of a vision impairment. This includes children up to the age of 17. This low vision statistic includes visually impaired kids who still can not see clearly even when wearing their best corrected prescription.

Adults

Of those 18 and older approximately 26.9 million reported having some form of vision loss in the year 2017. “Vision Loss” is loosely defined as people having trouble seeing even when corrected by contacts or glasses, this does not include those that are legally blind.


16.4 million of the 26.9 million were women and 10.5 million were men. Surprisingly 19.1 million were between the ages of 18-64 and only 7.8 were 65 and older. 21 million were white, 3.8 million were black, 1 million were Asian and 305,000 were American Indian. 662,000 were members of other races.

 

For adults over 25, 4 million didn’t get their high school diploma, 6.3 million have their high school diploma, 7.5 million have some college, and 6.4 million have at least a bachelor’s degree.

 

Of those with a family income of $35,000 or less there was approximately 10 million in the US with low vision and on the other end of the income scale there was approximately 5 million with incomes over $100k.

 

The most common diseases for low vision or vision loss globally were age related macular degeneration at 196 million, 76 million that have glaucoma, and 146 million with Diabetic retinopathy.

 

The majority of the people suffering from vision loss according to the low vision statistics and the WHO were those that didn’t get their vision conditions treated early enough. The knowledge of how to prevent low vision in your daily life along with the action of having routine eye exams will greatly aid in the prevention of low vision in your years to come.

Symptoms & Types of Low Vision

Central Vision Loss

Central vision loss is usually the result of damage to the macula. The macula is the area of the retina where the photoreceptors are the most densely packed. Similar to pixels on a TV, the more dense the photoreceptors or pixels the better the image or picture is. Our central vision is what allows us to see detail for such tasks as reading and writing, seeing street signs and recognizing faces. Central vision loss can be devastating to one’s ability to function and do daily activities. Losing the ability to drive and read can lead to isolation and to depression. Although our central vision only makes up about 3 percent of our overall vision it is the most important part of our vision for maintaining our independence.

Peripheral Vision Loss

Peripheral vision loss affects our side vision and is considered everything outside of the central 10 degrees of vision. Severe peripheral vision loss can be called tunnel vision. Tunnel vision affects our mobility and orientation and can greatly slow or hinder out productivity. If the peripheral vision loss is bad enough it will limit the ability to drive and play sports because of the inability to see things coming at you from the sides.

Low Vision Symptoms

Symptoms of low vision can vary greatly. Because Low Vision is more of a term in regards to function, symptoms can be anything that decreases visual function and makes daily activities more difficult.

Blurred Vision

Blurred central vision is probably the most common symptom. However decreased peripheral vision isn’t far behind.

Light sensitivity

Night blindness, light sensitivity, glare and even phantom vision can be common symptoms of different types of blindness and low vision.

Contrast sensitivity

Decreased contrast sensitivity requiring better lighting conditions and or some loss of color perception when the macula is damaged.

Visual tasks confusion

Confusion when performing visual tasks, trouble reading, double vision, abnormal body posture, balance problems and dizziness.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Phantom vision is also known as Charles Bonnet syndrome. This is where the brain starts to fill in images because the input from the eyes is decreased. The brain fills the void of the scotomas (blind spots) with stored memories or images. Once mental illness such as schizophrenia has been ruled out and there is considerable vision loss the diagnosis of Charles Bonnet Syndrome or Phantom Eye Syndrome can be made.

Think you may have a low vision problem?

Causes of Low Vision

Low Vision Diseases

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. AMD Is caused by formation of deposits in the macula called drusen (dry amd). This causes a thinning of the retinal layers or atrophy. If these drusen get large enough they can break through a protective membrane that keeps fluid from the inner layers of the retina, this is when it becomes what is called wet macular degeneration allowing fluid to enter the inner layers. Once this happens those inner layers are starved for oxygen, this triggers new blood vessel formation. These new blood vessels are very tiny and fragile and easily break causing even more leakage.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the overall leading cause of blindness and the second leading cause of central vision loss. Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by the blood having too much sugar in it and the sugar not getting into the cells to provide energy. This causes the cells that line the blood vessel walls and control the dilation of the vessels to be damaged and to allow the blood vessels to become leaky. This can also lead to new blood vessel formation which tend to be fragile and easily break causing even more damage.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is also a common cause of low vision in adults. Although it can affect children it is far more common in adults. This disease affects the peripheral vision and deteriorates from the outside in. Glaucoma causes the nerves of the retina to atrophy usually due to intraocular pressure choking off the blood supply to the nerves or from other systemic diseases decreasing the blood supply.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a genetic condition that can be passed down from generation to generation. It is characterized primarily by peripheral vision loss and night blindness. It affects the rods of the peripheral retina which are responsible for movement and vision in low light levels. Most lose their vision slowly and don’t become completely blind. An even more rare form is called Inverse RP and affects the central vision.

Amblyopia and Strabismus

Amblyopia and Strabismus are two common causes of low vision in children. These two conditions tend to go hand in hand as strabismus causes amblyopia, however there many other causes of amblyopia. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes or an eye turn. Amblyopia is caused when the brain suppresses the input from the turned eye so that you don’t see double. The suppression causes the brain cells that would normally be stimulated to atrophy due to lack of use. This is called amblyopia. The longer the eye is suppressed the worse the vision loss will become. Amblyopia can be somewhat reversed if the underlying condition is fixed and vision therapy is used.

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity is a potentially blinding condition in premature infants that is caused by abnormal blood vessel formation in the retina. Most ROP resolves without causing any damage to the retina, however when it is severe it can cause retinal drag or tension which can lead to retinal detachments and even blindness. Babies born before 31 weeks gestation and of low birth weight are at highest risk, they usually require oxygen which is what causes the abnormal blood vessel growth.

Acquired (traumatic)

Acquired (traumatic) brain Injury can be a cause of low vision if the injury is along the visual pathway. Strokes can cause many forms of vision loss and low vision but often result in hemianopsia which is a peripheral visual field loss of usually half the field of vision.

Stargardt’s Disease

Stargardt’s Disease is a form of macular degeneration and is a cause of low vision in children and young adults. It is a genetic disorder that is passed down from parents to their children. It is often referred to as juvenile macular degeneration. In this disease photoreceptors in the macula die off causing loss of central vision and color vision deficiencies.

Cataracts

Cataracts develop into several different types but the worst for central vision loss are posterior polar cataracts which are an opacity in the center of the lens of the eye. Nuclear cataracts cause a loss of contrast sensitivity, overall hazy vision and can contribute to night blindness.

Diagnosis of Low Vision

Low Vision Tests

Low vision tests are done at an eye exam with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to determine the functional vision of a patient and their ability to perform daily activities. Visual acuity and amsler grids are low vision test charts used to determine central visual function or loss. Visual field tests aid in the low vision diagnosis to determine the field loss and remaining functional ability. A low vision diagnosis may also be made from an occupational therapist when they are conducting their in-home low vision assessment test.

Treatment of Low Vision

Low Vision Therapy

Low vision therapy is done by optometrists specializing in low vision and by occupational therapists who also specialize in low vision occupational therapy. Low vision therapy consists of teaching the patient how to use computer aided low vision devices and techniques. Low vision aids such as telescopes require special care and skills to be able to use them effectively. Low vision techniques such as eccentric viewing can greatly improve the patients ability to determine objects and faces. Low vision occupational therapy usually involves teaching the patient how to function in their own environment in a safe manner. Activities such as cooking can be dangerous if the patient doesn’t have the skills and special low vision devices and techniques to fall back on. Occupational therapists are a great resource for low vision activities for children once they have been fit with their low vision devices. They can teach them low vision compensatory techniques to help them with their school work and daily routines.
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