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LOW VISION
WHAT IS LOW VISION?
WHEN ORDINARY EYEGLASSES OR CONTACT LENSES CANNOT BRING A PERSON'S SIGHT UP TO A NORMAL SHARPNESS, THERE IS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE VISUAL SYSTEM. THAT INDIVIDUAL IS SAID TO HAVE LOW VISION. THIS CONDITION IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH COMPLETE BLINDNESS BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION HAVE ONLY A PARTIAL LOSS OF VISION AND DO RETAIN SOME VISION THAT OFTEN CAN BE IMPROVED.
NEXT TO HEART DISEASE AND ARTHRITIS, LOW VISION IS THE GREATEST HANDICAP AMONG THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65, AFFECTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. AN ESTIMATED 1.4 MILLION INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO READ NORMAL NEWSPAPER SIZE PRINT WITH CONVENTIONAL GLASSES. ALTHOUGH THIS LOSS OF SIGHT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THE ELDERLY, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES MAY EXPERIENCE LOW VISION.
WHAT CAUSES LOW VISION?
LOW VISION RESULTS FROM A VARIETY OF DISORDERS THAT AFFECT THE EYE AND THE VISUAL SYSTEM. BIRTH DEFECTS, INJURIES, CERTAIN BODY DISEASES AND AGING ALL MAY LEAD TO VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. MORE COMMONLY, SCARRING OR DETERIORATION OF THE RETINA, THE LIGHT SENSITIVE TISSUE IN THE BACK OF THE EYE, CAUSES LOW VISION. HOWEVER, LOSS OF SIGHT CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY CONDITIONS LIKE CATARACTS OR GLAUCOMA, OR DAMAGE TO THE OPTIC NERVE THAT CARRIES VISUAL IMAGES TO THE BRAIN.
ONCE THE CAUSE OF LOW VISION IS MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED BY YOUR EYE DOCTOR, HE MAY SUGGEST LOW VISION AIDS OR MAY REFER YOU TO OTHER LOW VISION SPECIALISTS OR AGENCIES WHO CAN PROVIDE HELP. SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHO OFFER LOW VISION ASSISTANCE HAVE THE WORD, "BLIND," IN THEIR TITLES. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE BLIND TO QUALIFY FOR THEIR LOW VISION SERVICES.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOW VISION?
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT A PATIENT'S SIGHT MAY BE AFFECTED BY LOW VISION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE IS THE LOSS OF CENTRAL OR READING VISION AND THE LOSS OF SIDE VISION. OTHER WAYS SIGHT CAN BE AFFECTED INCLUDE REDUCTION OR LOSS OF COLOR VISION, DIFFICULT ADAPTATION TO LIGHT AND DARK, AND REDUCTION OF FOCUSING POWER.
WHAT ARE LOW VISION OPTICAL AIDS AND HOW CAN THEY HELP?
LOW VISION AIDS INCLUDE OPTICAL DEVICES OR LENSES THAT ENLARGE OBJECTS BEING VIEWED. THEY MAY CONSIST OF A LENS, A COMBINATION OF LENSES, A PRISM, A MIRROR, A SPECIALIZED TELEVISION SET, OR EVEN A COMPUTER READING DEVICE. NO ONE LOW VISION AID HAS BEEN DESIGNED THAT CAN REPLACE ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NORMAL EYE. FOR THIS REASON, A PERSON MAY NEED A COMBINATION OF AIDS; ONE TYPE FOR CLOSE WORK AND ANOTHER TYPE FOR DISTANCE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS AIDS AND THEY COME IN VARIOUS STRENGTHS. THEY HELP A PERSON MAKE THE BEST USE OF REMAINING VISION.
WHAT OTHER HELP IS AVAILABLE?
A WIDE VARIETY OF NON-OPTICAL AIDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE SUCH AS NEEDLE THREADERS, AS WELL AS MANY LARGE-PRINT ITEMS INCLUDING BOOKS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, TELEPHONE DIALS, LARGE CHARACTER CALCULATORS, AND PLAYING CARDS. INCREASED LIGHTING IS ESSENTIAL AND TINTED LENSES ARE SOMETIMES USED TO REDUCE GLARE FROM BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. ELECTRONIC AIDS SUCH AS CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH BUILT-IN MAGNIFICATION AND COMPUTER READING DEVICES ARE USEFUL IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES.
LOW VISION RESOURCES
- AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND, PROGRAM SERVICES, 15 WEST 15TH STREET, YORK, NEW YORK 10011, (212) 620-2063. LOW VISION ACCESSORIES INCLUDE HOUSEHOLD, MEDICAL, COMMUNICATION, AND RECREATIONAL AIDS
- THE HADLEY SCHOOL, FREE ADULT EDUCATION AT HOME FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, (800) 526-9909
- SCIENCE PRODUCTS, BOX 888 SOUTHEASTERN, PA 19399, (800) 888-7400. CATALOGUE OF LOW VISION AIDS
- KRAMER VISION REHABILITATION CENTER, THE JEWISH GUILD FOR THE BLIND, 75 STRATTON STREET, SOUTH; YONKERS, NEW YORK 10701, (914) 963-4661
- DIALOGUE PUBLICATIONS, 3100 OAK PARK AVENUE BERWYN, ILLINOIS 60402, (312) 749-1908. LARGE-PRINT AND RECORDED MAGAZINE AND INFORMATION
- VISION FOUNDATION, INC., 2 MT AUBURN STREET, WATERTOWN, MA 02172, (617) 926-4232. CATALOG INCLUDES READING MATERIALS, SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION, AND A WIDE VARIETY OF RESOURCES FOR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED.
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