What is LOW VISION?

Low Vision is a condition wherein people find everyday visual tasks difficult to do in-spite of the use of regular prescribes glasses or contact lenses, and even after having maximum medical and/or surgical management for their eye problem.

Routine, everyday tasks and activities like reading newspapers, shopping, watching television or simply walking around and traveling independently become Herculean tasks.

The problems may be caused by several conditions (central or peripheral visual disorders) resulting in:

1. Difficulties of recognition of detail and color; but allowing ambulation and travel
2. Problems preventing independent travel; but sparing the central vision such that the patient is capable of “seeing” but only through a tunnel of clear sight.
3. Or they may be any combination o the above

What are the causes of Low Vision?

• Diabetic Retinopathy

• Age-related degeneration of the retina (macular degeneration)

• Optic nerve damage

• Glaucoma

• Untreated or neglected cataracts

• Corneal diseases

• Eye trauma

• Eye birth defects

How do you detect low vision?

Although it may necessitate the services of an Eye Doctor (ophthalmologist) to accurately diagnose Low Vision, certain signs may lead one to suspects its presence. If one is wearing his regular glasses or contact lenses and still has difficulty:

• Recognizing faces of known friends and relatives

• Reading street/bus signs

• Walking independently in unfamiliar places

• Working because the lights appear much dimmer than they used to

• Matching colors

• Reading tag prices in supermarkets or stores

• Reading regular newspaper articles

• Performing activities of daily living such as cooking, eating, sewing, locating hairbrushes or toothbrushes

What can be done?

The visually impaired should be referred to a Low Vision service for further management.

“Although it may be true that not much else can be done for the eye, it is almost never true that nothing more can be done for the patient.”

In the end, the age-old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” strands the test of time. Regular eye check-ups help detect preventable and treatable eye diseases.

The sooner the medical condition is recognized, the sooner the proper eye specialist sees the patient, then the earlier the condition can be diagnosed. Once diagnosed, the proper management can be undertaken.

Proper referral to a Low Vision service would then maximize the possibility of successful treatment and the maintenance of remaining vision.

Truly, there is hope for the visually impaired.

THE LOW VISION REHABILITATION TEAM: A HOLISTIC APROACH

• Low Vision Specialist

• Psychiatry Specialist

• Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist

• Occupational Therapist

This Multi-Disciplinary team approach is essential to the rehabilitative process and includes all available devices and technology to help the patient adapt to vision loss. Ultimately, the aim is to help the patient resume crucial activities he used to do – within reasonable limits relative to the actual visual problem.

A Low Vision specialist is an Eye Doctor (ophthalmologist) who is qualified to train the visually impaired/ Low Vision patient to effectively utilize his remaining useful vision with special aids such as special glasses, magnifiers and miniature telescopes.

Note:   This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advise, diagnosis or treatment.   If you or someone you know have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to seek professional help.

For more information, please call:

EYE CENTER
Tel No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6252

CENTER FOR PATIENT PARTNERSHIP
Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6444