February is Low Vision Awareness Month, a crucial time to shine a light on this growing concern. Over 2 million Americans over the age of 50 have age-related macular degeneration, which significantly impacts daily life.
In this post, we will uncover the term low vision, the risk factors related to low vision, and how you can protect your eyesight.
WHAT IS LOW VISION?
Low vision is an eye condition that cannot be cured by medical, surgical, or corrective lens treatment. People affected with low vision often experience discomfort in their day-to-day life. These may include reading, reading, writing, cooking, watching TV, or recognizing faces.
CONDITIONS CAUSE LOW VISION
Many different eye conditions can cause low vision, but the most common causes are:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): This disease damages the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50.
Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts eye disease are common in older adults, but they can also occur in younger people due to injury, diabetes, or other medical conditions
Diabetic retinopathy: This is a complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes.
Glaucoma: This is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which carries signals from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma is often linked to high pressure inside the eye.