What are low vision eye conditions?
An overview of some of the most common low vision eye conditions.
Summary
Low vision affects everyone differently and can be caused by a variety of different conditions. While there are three typical stages of low vision used to measure its progression, these are not the same across all conditions or people. Here is a list of some common low vision eye conditions and how they can affect your vision.
What are low vision eye conditions?
Low vision refers to a condition where an individual experiences vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, medical intervention, or surgery. People with low vision may have some useful vision left. Low vision affects each person in different ways dependent on the cause for low vision. Low vision is often categorised as early, moderate, or severe, and may not necessarily follow a linear pattern of development. Some diseases can cause a gradual and progressive loss of vision, whereas others may cause a more acute, or sudden, loss of vision and limited gradual progression.
The definition of legal blindness does not necessarily mean a person sees nothing at all. Legal blindness is a term often used by government agencies to determine potential entitlement levels of government support for people who experience more advanced low vision. Your eye care provider can let you know what stage of low vision you are considered to be.
The most important thing to know is that having low vision does not mean you need to stop doing the things that you enjoy, it only means that you need to learn ways to do these things differently.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is caused by damage to the cells in the macula which is part of the retina at the back of your eye. Your macula is responsible for your fine vision, allowing you to read, see fine detail, and distinguish colour. AMD causes loss of your central vision with symptoms like blurred vision, dark patches, or distortion of vision. AMD is one of the main causes of low vision in Australia with about one in seven Australians over the age of 50 years having some signs of AMD.
There are many other eye conditions which may cause low vision and your eye care professional is your best source of information on your specific condition. Additionally, many conditions often have no symptoms in the initial stages of disease. For this reason, regular eye checks are the best way to preserve sight during all the stages of life.
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Always speak to your GP and eye care professional about the best treatment options for you.
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