The spectrum of vision runs on a scale from normal sight to low vision to blindness. “Low vision” is a term not particularly well known by the general population. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Low vision is vision loss that can’t be corrected with glasses, contacts or surgery. It isn’t blindness as limited sight remains. Low vision can include blind spots, poor night vision, and blurry sight. The most common causes are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes.” They further estimate the prevalence of low vision at “one in six adults over age 45” and “one in four adults over age 75.”
The fact that the vision loss is uncorrectable does not mean there is nothing we can do to mitigate the effects. To inspire that effort, and to recognize Low Vision Awareness Month, here is a collection of OE’s best low vision articles.
Nate Berkus fixing up a blue pillow on a couch in a living room.
Nates Low Vision Makeover
Nate Berkus is looking at home design through the prism of low vision and we are delighted to receive his expert advice. He knows color contrast and he knows lighting. He knows how progressive vision loss can make it difficult to see the details in your own living space. He understands this because his grandmother had macular degeneration. Read Now
Savvy senior woman happily using a smartphone.
Your Smartphone is a Comprehensive Low Vision Device
Living with vision loss, like living in a pandemic, requires us to accept change and embrace technology. Digital access is no longer an option, it is a necessity. Every patient experiencing changes in vision should know there is a multitude of accessibility options, available in their smartphones (and tablets), designed to help compensate for low vision. Read Now
OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.
Episode 4: Must Know Info About Adjusting to Low Vision
Too many patients with low vision believe “nothing can be done” to improve their quality of life. In this episode, Dorrie Rush and Jaydan Mitchell are busting that myth with a review of just the basics everyone needs to know about living better with vision loss. Listen Now
Happy senior couple watching on a mobile smartphone and laughing together
Living Better with Low Vision
A recent statement by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) was eye-opening, to say the least. They noted the number of older Americans with low vision will likely double in the coming years, and stated, “the tragedy isn’t that people have lost vision, it’s that most believe nothing can be done to improve their quality of life.” The ill-informed belief that “nothing can be done” is a false narrative that we are working to correct. Read Now
Colorful clothing organized in a closet.
Low Vision Awareness: Time to Get Organized
Getting organized is key to living successfully with low vision. It may not be as easy to look for things as it once was. A neat and tidy environment will compensate in substantial ways. Think about how nice it is to open a drawer and find exactly what you’re looking for because it is right where you left it. With low vision often it is easier to put our hands on something before our eyes see that it’s there. Read Now
AAO Video: Technologies For Patients With Low Vision
In a video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Drs. Mary Lou Jackson and Mark Bona take a brief look at an interesting selection of low vision technology. Here is the list of products they mention with our summary and comment. The video is linked at the end of this post. Read Now
OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and white OE Patients logo.
Episode 12: Hottest Low Vision Gifts
The low vision gift guide is one of OE’s most popular webpages and now it’s a podcast too. Get the inside scoop on the very best things to give or get. Listen Now
