Top 3 Common Causes of Low Vision (And How to Correct Them)

Low vision is a common issue that causes a lot of discomfort to many Americans for various reasons. While this may largely be due to aging, some common eye diseases or injuries can contribute to the rapid degeneration of your eyesight.

The Low Vision Centers of Charlotte, Wilmington and Asheville, NC, provide full and professional eye care services that can reduce degeneration and help to restore eyesight regardless of the issue.

What is Low Vision?

Low vision is more than just deteriorating eyesight, it is characterized by impaired vision that cannot be fixed with common methods, such as prescriptive lenses, medication, or surgery. Common causes of low vision are through certain eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts.

How Low Vision is Often Formed

Aging

Low vision is attributed to aging but can go above and beyond this characterization. For example, certain acquired diseases such as glaucoma can develop throughout one’s life. Low vision can also come as a result of eye injuries, such as blunt trauma or infections.

Genetics

There are various diseases that are congenital ( present at birth) or develop throughout one’s life due to genetics. Common congenital diseases are cataracts, which are present at birth but may not become fully pronounced until later on in life. Optic atrophy is a condition that weakens the optic nerves within the eye and is mostly due to genetic inheritance.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle has a large effect on low vision diseases. The most common one is macular degeneration, which is a loss of central vision. This is more common in those over 50, and those who eat diets high in saturated fat and have high blood pressure.

Low Vision Centers of Charlotte, Asheville and Wilmington, NC

Low vision does not go away on its own and becomes more pronounced the longer you hold off treatment. An appointment with the Low Vision Centers of Charlotte, Asheville or Wilmington, NC, ensures that you have the professional advice necessary for proper recommendations on your unique situation.