lions eye health programme: about low vision as a form of eye disease
table containing hyperlink buttons to all sections of the lions eye health program web site: home, about, eye disease, resources, sign up, contact.
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table containing rollover menu with hyperlinks throughout this section, about the lions eye health programme
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| Low Vision |
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A person with low vision is someone who has a visual impairment that can't be corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery and that interferes with their ability to perform everyday tasks. Low vision can result from a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries that affect the eye. For this reason no two cases of low vision are exactly alike. A person with low vision may have age related macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy and a wide range of remaining, usable vision. Low vision is not a normal part of aging!
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People with low vision can benefit from access to visual enhancement services that enable best use of eyesight. These include medical treatment, assessment of seeing ability, access to optical devices such as magnifying lenses, and visual enhancement training.
For people with low vision, timeliness is key. If an older person gets prompt access to these services they will be able to make effective use of limited sight and they will also be less at risk of experiencing depression associated with sight loss.
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| Facts About Low Vision |
Approximately 8% of people over the age of 65 are blind or have low vision. and Approximately 1 in 1000 young people under the age of 18 have low vision
It is estimated that the number of adults with vision impairment is likely will double over the next 30 years
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) accounts for 49% of all register able blindness
The symptoms of low vision depend on the cause and where the problem is in the eye and can include:
- Problems seeing detail, such as print
- Frustration and emotional difficulties due to variable and inconsistent eyesight and lack of understanding
- Bumping into objects due to the loss of their outside/or peripheral (side) vision.
- Difficulty seeing well when the light conditions change quickly
- Difficulty matching colours or seeing colours at all
Low vision services are not comprehensive across the UK . If you do not have a one-stop comprehensive service in your area it is likely that the different elements of the service will be provided in different places:
- Medical eye treatment and diagnosis is mainly available in hospital eye departments although some people are now looked after in local opticians practices and specialist centres
- Assessment of visual function and provision of optical services is usually attached to eye departments and optometrists’ or opticians’ practices. In some areas rehabilitation workers and specialist teachers supply devices and other equipment
- Visual enhancement or low vision therapy is provided by rehabilitation workers, qualified in a variety of skills to enable people to adapt to loss of eyesight. They are usually based in social services or the voluntary sector, Services may also be provided by hospital or clinic based professionals such as orthoptists and occupational therapists
- Advise and support link worker s or sight loss support person (Eye Clinic Liaison Person) provide information and emotional support at time of diagnosis
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