Don’t overlook early warning signs that your vision is changing.
It’s common to think about vision loss as either-or—either you can see, or you can’t. But the reality is that 85% of people with eye disorders have some degree of sight, even if they’ve had to adapt to relying on it less. Many of these cases would fall under the umbrella of “low vision.”
Low vision refers to any visual impairment or loss that can’t be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication. Doctors typically use the term for more serious impairments that interfere with a person’s day-to-day life. There are multiple types of low vision, and it can be caused by a range of eye conditions, usually only once they’ve reached more advanced stages. By that time, low vision is very often permanent.
There are, however, ways that you can reduce your risk of low vision. And even if you’re already experiencing low vision, treatments and adaptations can help you keep doing the things that matter to you. Here’s what you need to know.
Vision changes are often partial and gradual.
When our vision begins to change, it usually does so gradually. Low vision commonly starts with impairments only in certain parts of your field of view, or under certain conditions. You may notice blurriness only in the central part of your vision, for example, or only have trouble seeing at night. Low vision can affect:
- Central vision: what’s straight ahead of you
- Peripheral vision: around the edges of your view, or the “corner of your eye”
- Night vision: seeing in darkness or low light
- Glare resistance: seeing in bright light
- Depth perception: judging the distance of objects
- Visual clarity: ability to see details and tell objects apart
If you notice that you’re struggling more than you did before with any of these things, keep track of the timing—your care provider may ask you about it if they choose to do a low vision exam.
Because low vision can show up in many different ways, care providers have multiple tests for determining its severity. In a low vision exam, your provider will check your eyes in many of the same ways as your regular comprehensive eye exam, to help determine what the root cause of your low vision might be. They might also have you look at certain eye charts to measure the sharpness of your vision and whether any parts of it are distorted or wavy. A specialized machine can be used to measure the edges of your field of vision.
In addition, your provider will ask about your vision history, family history, and other medical conditions, and then discuss the ways your low vision is impacting your day-to-day life. From there, they may refer you for vision rehabilitation, which we’ll talk about more below.
Several common eye conditions can lead to low vision.
A range of eye diseases, injuries, genetic conditions, and other factors can lead to vision loss, but the most common causes are also some of the most common eye conditions. Several are related to age, and some are correlated with other, whole-body health conditions:
Our eyes and the structures around them are interwoven with many small blood vessels. These vessels are delicate, and as we age or our health changes, they’re often some of the first to feel the effects. When they grow abnormally or are damaged, it can result in AMD or diabetic retinopathy, and can increase the risk of glaucoma. Cataracts are mainly associated with age, but can also result from diabetes.
With the exception of cataracts, these conditions often don’t show symptoms in their earliest stages. Regular eye exams are the only way to identify them. Once you and your provider know about them, though, there are steps you can take to slow or stop their progression.
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent these eye conditions, but taking care of your eyes and your overall health can lower your risk for them. Steps you can take include:
- Regular exercise
- Eating eye-healthy foods
- Using protective eyewear when appropriate
- Managing your blood pressure and, if applicable, your diabetes
- Stopping smoking
Support exists for people experiencing low vision.
Changes to your vision can be a challenging adjustment, especially if it’s harder to do things you could do easily before. Low vision can make it more difficult to do everyday tasks like reading or driving. Left untreated, it can be an isolating experience, making it hard to get out of the house or navigate life with independence.
Fortunately, strategies and help exist for adapting to low vision. Specialists in vision rehabilitation can assess your vision more precisely to get as many details as possible about how your eyes are currently functioning. Then, they can work with you and your care provider to make the most of your remaining vision and maintain your independence.
They may introduce lenses or electronics to magnify text, or screen-reading technologies to help with computer use. Vision rehabilitation specialists can also provide practical training and occupational therapy to find different ways of accomplishing your everyday tasks and the things you enjoy. Beyond a single service, vision rehabilitation is a network of professionals that are invested in your quality of life.
Be ready for life’s changes with vision insurance.
Heritage knows the importance of access to great vision care, and how it can have tremendous benefits to quality of life. It’s important at every stage of life, but becomes especially crucial as we age, when vision changes happen for so many of us.
Tackle the uncertainty with a trusted ally. Our handpicked provider network covers all 50 states, and you can find quality care near you with our provider search tool. Not yet a member? Learn more about our individual and family plans, and let our family help protect yours.