It’s common to develop vision impairment as we age. In fact, refractive errors such as presbyopia,or nearsightedness, often occur after the age of 45. However, some eye conditions make it more difficult to see than others. These include conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. If you’re struggling with low vision, your eye doctor in Wilmington, NC, can help you find solutions.

What Is Low Vision?

Low vision is a reduced ability to see, and it’s usually permanent. Unlike problems caused by refractive errors, low vision can’t be fixed through prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Instead, it must be managed in ways that help you go on with your daily activities. Usually, this involves using low-vision aids, including magnifying glasses, mounted loupes, hand magnifiers, or reading telescopes.

What Causes Low Vision?

Chronic conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetes, and glaucoma are common causes of low vision. Unlike other medical ailments, lost vision usually can’t be corrected. And because most of the conditions that cause low vision worsen with age, simply the act of getting older can contribute to reduced vision.

Low vision can make it difficult to read, drive, or recognize faces by sight. However, with the help of low-vision aids, you can still maintain your quality of life.

How Do I Know If I Have Low Vision?

If your vision seems blurrier than it used to be, or if you’re having an increasingly difficult time seeing well enough to read or drive, low vision could be the culprit. This condition may affect your central or peripheral vision. Or, it may contribute to night blindness — the inability to see well in low light.

If you notice vision changes like these as you age, a visit to your eye doctor is recommended.

Help for Low Vision in Wilmington, NC

For the diagnosis and treatment of low vision in Wilmington, NC, call the Low Vision Centers of North Carolina. Dr. Edward Paul is waiting to help you manage life with low vision.

Sources

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/low-vision#:~:text=Low%20vision%20is%20a%20vision,Drive

https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/low-vision/overview/ovc-20519042#:~:text=Low%20vision%20means%20having%20impaired,include%20glaucoma%2C%20cataracts%20and%20diabetes.