Are you experiencing low vision? Like nearly 4 million Americans, if you are having trouble seeing sharply like recognizing people's faces even with glasses or corrective lenses, you may have low vision.
Be aware. Low vision is not the same as needing reading glasses or bifocals, which are a natural result of aging. Besides age-related retinal conditions, other possible causes include glaucoma, diabetes, cancer of the eye, albinism, stroke, eye trauma, or brain injury.
A recent study shows that low vision and blindness is trending to more than double in the next 30 years, with 2.3 million people expected to be blind and more than 9.5 million living with low vision.
What types of low vision can you experience?
- Loss of central vision: a blind spot in the center of your field of vision.
- Loss of peripheral (side) vision: can’t see anything to either side or above or below eye level, but your central vision remains intact.
- Night blindness: can’t see well in poorly lit places like theaters or outside at night.
- Blurred vision: objects both near and far are out of focus.
- Hazy vision: entire field of vision seems to be covered with a film or glare.
Taking care of your eye health is a lifestyle.
- Get regular dilated eye exams
- Know your family’s eye health history
- Eat a nutritious diet
- Don’t smoke
- Wear protective eyewear
Get help scheduling your next eye exam. Visit usfhp.net or call 1-800-241-4848.