Low vision is a term that refers to vision 20/70 or worse that cannot be fully corrected by glasses or contact lenses. People with low vision fall into two groups: partially sighted (meaning they have a visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 with the aid of corrective lenses), or legally blind (meaning vision is no better than 20/200 with regular correction aids).
What Causes Low Vision?
The most common cause for low vision is macular degeneration, a disease of the sensory retina. However, there are a wide variety of causes of low vision, including:
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Birth defects
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Inherited diseases
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Injuries
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Diabetes
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Glaucoma
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Cataract
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Aging
Symptoms of Low Vision
A thorough eye examination is needed to diagnose causes of low vision. People with low vision may experience the following symptoms:
Treatments for Low Vision
Low vision cannot be fully corrected. However, there are a wide array of devices to help people with low vision, including magnifiers and reading prisms, large-print reading materials, high-contrast watches, and machines that talk.