What Causes Low Vision?
If you have low vision, your eye doctor may have informed you that it is the kind of vision that can’t be corrected with traditional treatments like glasses or contact lenses. While not technically blindness, low vision can greatly impair your quality of life.
What Causes Low Vision?
Low vision can be caused by one thing or by multiple factors. Common causes include:
Diabetes
One of the main symptoms of diabetes is having too much blood sugar. When diabetes is not managed, this chronic condition can lead to diabetic retinopathy. What happens is that the excess sugar in your blood damages the retina. Blood goes to every organ in your body, including your eyes. The presence of excess sugar is very damaging to blood vessels, including the ones in your eyes. This is why diabetes is considered one of the causes of low vision.
Macular Degeneration
Your eyes age along with the rest of your body. Sometimes older folks experience macular degeneration, which is a condition where the vision slowly deteriorates. Lifestyle factors like drinking and smoking and obesity can increase the odds of macular degeneration. Regular visits to your eye doctor can help to catch signs of macular early. Sometimes progression can be thwarted or at least slowed.
Other causes of low vision include:
- Eye trauma
- Inherited conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa
- Brain injury
- Eye cancer
- And more
Help For Low Vision
In most cases, low vision cannot be reversed. However, there are some helpful, specialized options available that your eye doctor can help you acquire. These include:
- Telescopic eyeglasses
- Special light-filtering lenses
- Magnifying glasses
- Computer screen magnifiers
- Reading prisms
- And more
Your eye doctor has extensive experience helping those with low vision to enjoy a higher quality of life. Book an appointment now at The Low Vision Centers of North Carolina to learn more.
