Low Vision

Low vision is a term used to describe partial sight - sight that is not correctable with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. Low vision includes varying degrees of sight loss, from blind spots, poor night vision and tunnel vision to almost total blindness. It may refer to difficulty distinguishing colors or impaired space perception.

There are two categories of low vision: partially sighted, in which a person has vision between 20/70 and 20/200 with conventional prescription lenses; and legally blind, which refers to people with vision no better than 20/200 with a conventional prescription and/or a restricted field of vision less than 20 degrees wide.

Although low vision can affect persons of any age, it is most commonly a problem among older adults. A number of conditions and injuries can cause low vision. Age-related disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, often result in low vision. The incidence of these conditions increases with age, resulting in low vision in one in four adults over the age of 75. However, low vision can also affect younger adults suffering from diseases, such as diabetes, or injuries to the eye, head or brain.

Per its definition, low vision cannot be cured or corrected. However, numerous visual aids, both optical (telescopic glasses and hand magnifiers) and non-optical (text reading software and large-print publications), can make life easier for persons living with low vision.

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Low Vision Topics

Low Vision, Low Vision Aids