Low vision happens when your visual capacity declines to the point where it cannot be fully corrected with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Medications and surgery may also be rendered ineffective, and you may have a harder time carrying out your daily tasks. Let your trusted eye specialist, Dr. Joel H. McGahen, OD, answer some common questions about this visual impairment.
What Causes Low Vision?
Some eye conditions, like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration may result in low vision. Diabetic retinopathy and retinal tears are also common causes. Traumatic eye and brain injuries may lead to this manifestation as well.
How Does Low Vision Affect My Everyday Life?
You may have a hard time seeing objects whether up-close or at a distance. Our expert eye doctor explains that this vision error may also cause difficulties with recognizing familiar faces and reading street signs.
What Are the Types of Low Vision?
This eye condition may affect your central and peripheral vision. You may also develop depth perception and contrast sensitivity problems. Sluggish visual responses and reflexes are additional possibilities.
How Is This Detected?
Visit our low vision specialist as soon as you recognize any symptoms of this eye problem. The sooner we identify low vision, the better chances we have of preserving your eyesight. We can perform diagnostic tests to determine its root cause and assess your different ocular functions. We may also evaluate your visual acuity, depth perception, and color appreciation.
How Is This Managed?
We may create a rehabilitation program to help strengthen your remaining useful eyesight. This may include visual aids, audio books, and magnifiers. We may also suggest performing daily eye exercises as adjunct therapy. This method can help affected individuals regain their independence and enjoy a better quality of life.
For more information about our premier low vision services, call us at (717) 609-4443 or fill out or form. We offer our high-quality eye care to families in Greencastle, PA, and other nearby Pennsylvania areas including Shippensburg.