Low vision, most often due to macular degeneration, is the term used to describe a permanent reduction in eyesight that cannot be fully corrected with eyeglasses or surgery that negatively impacts daily life. Dr. Randolph Kinkade, a Connecticut optometrist and a founding member of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, evaluates the degree of low vision and prescribes treatment.
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| Dr. Randolph Kinkade with External Telescopic Simulator |
The primary causes of low vision are eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. But low vision also can be inherited or caused by an eye or brain injury.
Age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD, is a the second-highest cause of irreversible blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in Americans over the age of 55.
AMD is the deterioration of the macula, the part of the eye that is responsible for our sharp central vision. Usually the loss of vision is slow, but in some cases the vision loss can occur much more rapidly.
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| Low Vision Binocular Spectacle Miniature Telecopes |
A person with low vision is not blind because they have some useful sight. The degree of their visual loss can make daily tasks, such as reading and driving, difficult or impossible.
Though children as well as adults can be visually impaired, low vision is most common with seniors. Loss of eyesight after a lifetime of good vision can be devastating. Frustration and depression are common with people with significant vision impairments. Not being able to read fluently, drive safely, or see images on a television or computer screen clearly can cause people to become isolated.
A person with low vision is not blind since they have some useful sight, but the
degree of their vision loss can make important daily tasks, such as reading and
driving, difficult or nearly impossible or even completely impossible.
Though children as well as adults can be visually impaired, low vision is
mostly a problem that afflicts seniors. Vision loss after a lifetime of good
eyesight can be very traumatic, leading to frustration and depression.
The cause of AMD is not fully known, but it is believed to be caused from multiple factors Age has certainly been shown to play a significant role in AMD. The older one gets the more likely one is to get AMD. Genetics is certainly another factor for some and the condition occurs more frequently in Caucasians than those of African descent. Studies have also found that smoking increases the risk of
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| Low Vision Bioptic Spectacle Miniature Telescope |
Patients with permanent vision can be helped with Spectacle Mounted Telescopes (SMTs) as well as optical and electronic magnification. The goal in low vision rehabilitation is to maximize and adapt the remaining vision.
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