Woman rubbing eyes in pain

Spectrum Eye Physicians Offers Help For Low Vision

Low vision can cause significant difficulties in managing everyday activities. If the low vision is because of an eye disease, individuals may require ongoing care to maintain their current level. In addition, they may require professional advice for managing ordinary tasks. The ophthalmologists and eye doctors at Spectrum Eye Physicians can monitor and treat eye diseases that affect vision and can help with visual aides

What Is Low Vision?

Low vision is a vision that is below the normal range that cannot be corrected with corrective lenses or surgery. Low vision can be caused by congenital problems, injury or disease. Individuals are considered partially sighted if vision is between 20/40 and 20/200 with prescription lenses. Individuals are considered legally blind if vision is 20/200 or less, even with correction. Low vision can also involve problems with central vision, peripheral vision or night vision.

Why Is Low Vision Important?

Low vision can restrict your ability to perform work tasks or even to do ordinary activities. However, regular care from your eye doctor will ensure that you maintain your current vision and can provide advice on ways to maximize your vision for everyday living.

Tips For Keeping Eyes Healthy

Vision experts recommend a number of measures to protect your vision and ensure healthy eyes.

  • Get regular eye exams, with dilation to detect problems of the internal structures of the eyes.
  • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Don’t smoke, and if you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit
  • Always wear sunglasses when out in bright sunlight to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.
  • Wear protective goggles when working with chemicals or doing construction tasks.
  • If you wear contact lenses, follow proper hygiene measures.
  • Rest your eyes when doing tasks by following the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from the task about 20 feet for 20 seconds.
  • If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully and get more frequent eye exams to prevent diabetic retinopathy that can cause vision loss.

Low Vision FAQ  

Low vision can be caused by any number of eye diseases, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.  It can also be the result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other medical condition.

People with low vision cannot see clearly, either up close or at a distance. This can have a dramatic effect on your lifestyle, making it difficult to perform daily tasks or enjoy normal activities. Depending on the extent of your condition, low vision can lower your quality of life.

Low vision can be diagnosed during an eye exam. Your optometry specialist will review your eye health and medical history and conduct vision tests to determine the cause and extent of your condition. Once we confirm you have low vision, we’ll develop a low vision care program to maximize whatever sight you have.

Low vision care refers to services provided by your optometry specialist to help you manage your low vision condition. These services may include eye exercises, vision rehab training, and the use of low vision aids such as high-powered lenses, patches, or prisms to improve your remaining sight.  

There are also visual and audio aids as well as computer assisted programs you can take advantage of to offset your visual impairment and give you greater independence in your daily life.

The goal of low vision care is to help improve your quality of life, despite your visual impairment. Through low vision care, you’ll learn how to use visual aids and receive visual rehab training to maximize your remaining sight so you can take part in activities you enjoy and live a more normal, independent lifestyle.

Contact Spectrum Eye Physicians Today!

Schedule your appointment online or call us at 408-884-2215. No matter which of our locations you visit, you will receive the latest in eye care technology from friendly eye doctors and staff committed to serving you.

Request Appointment