(PreserveMacForte.com) Low vision adversely impacts approximately 14 million Americans, and that number is slated to increase substantially due to factors such as the aging of baby boomer population, according to TC Palm recently.
The article noted that people who are diagnosed with low vision are those whose seeing impairment cannot be fixed with contact lenses or eye wear. The article noted that low vision happens to be No. 3 on the list of disabilities among people in America. As it turns out, women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with vision impairment.
According to the article, there are different levels of vision loss, ranging from blind spots to issues with glare to reduced night vision to nearly complete vision loss. Symptoms to be on the lookout for include problems recognizing things at a distance, issues figuring out the color of things and difficulty reading. Other warning signs could include central vision impairment issues stemming from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and distorted vision resulting from cataracts, cornea scars or diabetic retinopathy. People who experience any of these warning signs should consult their eye doctor for a low vision exam, according to the article.
The sort of exam used to see if someone has low vision is unlike the traditional eye exams that many people are used to. Low vision exams actually involve a number of tests such as a refraction tests to evaluate the patient’s glasses; a ocular motility test to determine how well a patient’s eyes move about; and a vision field test to figure out the level of patient’s peripheral vision.
During an annual eye exam, people can also have the eye care provider determine whether or not they might have AMD. Diagnosing the eye condition is critical since early detection opens up a number of options as per treatment. However, if diagnosis comes too late, it may not be possible to provide any treatment.
While there is no way for people to guarantee that they won’t get AMD, there are things they can do to lessen their odds of coming down with the eye disease. Exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding hypertension are just some of the things that can help people beat the odds on the AMD front.
Reference: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/mar/13/taking-care-do-you-need-to-test-for-low-vision-294