 | Dr. Bruce A. Kater is medical director at the Envision Rehabilitation Center, a clinic primarily serving patients with low vision. He earned his O.D. degree from the University of Houston, and has worked in low vision optometry since 1995. Dr. Kater can be reached at Envision Rehabilitation Center (316) 267-2244 , toll free (800) 685-7959 or visit www.envisionus.com |
Vision
2004-08-01 11:51:00
What is “low vision”?
QUESTION: Lately I have been hearing the term "low vision." What does this mean, and how is someone helped with this condition?
ANSWER: Low vision means that an individual has trouble doing everyday tasks due to uncorrectable vision loss. A person whose vision can be corrected with eyeglasses to 20/20 does not have low vision.The term "low vision" does not have a precise definition, but "legally blind" does. According to the U.S. Government, "legally blind" means a visual acuity with best correction in the better eye worse than or equal to 20/200 or a visual field extent of less than 20 degrees in diameter. About 1.3 million Americans are legally blind.The term "vision im-paired" generally means having 20/40 or worse vision in the better eye, even with eyeglasses.All told, there are about 3.5 million Americans - including 39,000 Kansans - who are blind or vision-impaired.The incidence of vision loss is expected to increase dramatically in the next 15 years, as the baby boomer generation becomes the largest group of seniors in history. Many kinds of vision loss, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, are age related.The key to getting the best possible ocular health is regular eye exams. For most people, this should be done every two years. If you're a senior, or at risk for eye disease, you should see your eye doctor every year. These visits are not just for getting a new prescription. Your eye doctor will give you a complete medical exam and check for eye diseases such as glaucoma. Early detection can help your doctor treat most eye diseases. Glaucoma, for example, presents no symptoms until it has damaged your sight. But if identified early, you can manage the disease and avoid vision loss.If you have low vision, you can take advantage of vision rehabilitation services. This process begins with a comprehensive evaluation to assess your vision loss. Once the source of your vision loss is identified, there are often optical strategies that can improve a patient's functional vision. A low vision therapist can also teach you techniques to make the most of your available vision. Today there are many tools at our disposal to improve functional vision, including special lighting, filters, optical aids, electronic aids and tools to adapt your computer.Relatively few people with vision loss know about or receive vision rehabilitation services. A study by the Lighthouse International found that only three percent of people with low vision actually received these services.While many forms of vision loss have no cure, my patients report that they live safer, more independent and satisfying lives after they receive a low vision assessment and vision rehabilitation services. Getting access to these services can help a senior remain in their own home, help them avoid injuries from falling, and keep them better connected to families and loved ones.If you'd like to learn more about vision rehabilitation, visit visionconnection.org, an outstanding web site that explains how people can benefit from these services.
