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  3. What is Low Vision?

What is Low Vision?

Low vision is when a person has lost a certain amount of eyesight, which cannot be fully corrected with ordinary prescription lenses, medical treatment or surgery, thus making it hard or impossible to perform many of the normal daily tasks (read, drive, watch television, see people’s faces, match colors). Low vision is strongly related to aging, and it can be caused by specific eye conditions (macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy), by a stroke or by other eye conditions. Common types of low vision: loss of central vision, loss of peripheral (side) vision, night blindness, blurred vision, hazy vision.

Additional materials:

(1) a video explanation of low vision;

(2) Examples of what people with low vision experience in everyday life when suffering from

Macular degeneration (photo by <a href="http://eyesofy ork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Macular-Degeneration-...">Eyesofyork.com</a>)

Simulation of how the progression in Macular Degeneration can affect the vision over time if left untreated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diabetic Retinopathy (photo by <a href="http://focuseyecentre.com.au/diabetic-retinopathy/">Focus Laser Eye Centre</a>)

Simulation of diabetic retinopathy distorted vision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glaucoma (photo by <a href="http://eyesofyork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Glaucoma-Vision-Simulat...">Eyesofyork.com</a>)

Simulation of how the progression in Glaucoma can affect vision over time if left untreated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

  1. Congdon N, O’Comain B, Klaver CC, Klein R, Munoz B, Friedman DS, Kempen J, Taylor HR, Mitchell P, Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States, Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, III.: 1960), 122(4), 2004, pp.477-485.
  2. Duffy MA, Low vision and Legal Blindness Terms and Descriptions, URL: http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/eye-health/low-vision/low-vision-terms-and-descriptions/1235.
  3. Biancarosa G, Griffiths GG. Technology tools to support reading in the digital age. Url: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ996196.pdf. The Future of Children, 22(2), 2012.
  4. Power C, Jurgensen H. Accessible presentation of information for people with visual disabilities. Universal Access in the Information Society, 9(2), 2010, pp.97-119. DOI: 10.1007/s10209-009-0164-1.
  5. Turbert D. Low vision. American Academy of Ophthalmology. URL: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/low-vision.