Let's Become More Familiar with "Low Vision"

 

Low vision is defined as a significantloss of visual function that is not correctable with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication or even surgery. This visual impairment can be congenital, hereditary (such as night blindness) or acquired (for example caused by diabetes or age-related retinal degeneration).

Some of the problems that visually impaired people may face include:

  • Loss of depth perception: In this case, the individual has difficulty in judging the position and depth of steps and things like that.
  • Loss of contrast sensitivity:In this case,the individual has difficulty in Recognizing faces, detecting the edges (i.e., the edge of the step, etc.), and seeing in dim light or fog.
  • Color vision impairment: This is often known as Red-Green color vision impairment or Blue-Yellow color vision impairment. In this case, the individual is unable to distinguish the colors of traffic lights in crossroads.
  • Problem with distance vision: low vision people usually have difficulties in watching TV, seeing the class boards, reading the names of the streets and distinguishing people.
  • Problem with near vision: Some individuals have difficulties in reading standard texts, writing, working with computers and etc.

To solve these problems, one of the most important things is training the visually impaired person how to use his remaining vision or other senses.

If a person, after optometry examinations (best corrected visual acuity checkup, visual field checkup, etc.), ophthalmology examinations (health check of the cornea, retina, ocular muscles and intraocular pressure) and receiving treatments such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, laser therapy, and a variety of surgeries, still suffers from the loss of vision, he will be referred to the low vision clinic of Noor Eye Hospital.

Fortunately, advances in low-vision devices such as optical aids, non-optical aids and lifestyle rehabilitation have made it possible to help these patients and stop their social isolation (due to vision loss).

However, we have to remember that the successful use of visual aids is somewhat relative; therefore both patient and his family should pay careful attention to the followings:

  1. Some part of vision must be remained so that the patient can be to able use visual aids.
  2. The patient needs to be motivated enough to use these devices.
  3. Whoever has decided to use these visual aids should be psychologically flexible and able to put up with the restrictions of these devices, because despite the fact that these visual aids can improve vision, they may also cause some visual scope and motion limitations.
  4. Observing these limitations and accepting them will certainly lead to a boost in visual performance. Fortunately, most people with low vision easily cope with these limitations due to improved visual.

In low vision Clinic of Noor Eye Hospital, specialists pay advice to visually impaired patients every day. The elderly and frail can benefit from a home visit service.

Please contact us: +9882401763, The Low Vision Clinic of Noor Eye Hospital.