You may have low vision when your visual capacity has declined significantly. While wearing your prescription contact lenses or eyeglasses may help, this may not be enough to restore needed acuity to carry out daily tasks. To give you a better understanding of this condition, Dr. Joel H. McGahen, OD, busts four common myths surrounding it.
1. A Diagnosis of Low Vision Means the Same Thing for All Affected Persons
Just like any other eye disease, a diagnosis of low vision may indicate that your ability to see has deteriorated to the point where you may require daily living assistance. That said, we still consider your personal circumstances, which are different for every patient. There’s also various low vision classifications depending on your current visual acuity and overall eye health.
2. Low Vision Is a Natural Part of Aging
Over time, it is expected you’ll experience some ocular changes which may require some visual assistance. You may even develop some age-related conditions, like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, which may also increase your risk of having low vision. While age plays a major factor in its development, no evidence shows that it’s the sole cause of this condition. According to your expert eye doctor, eye and brain trauma, as well as developmental delays, may lead to this problem as well.
3. Low Vision Means You’ll Be Blind Soon
With proper management, we can prevent low vision from progressing to more serious problems, like vision loss. We suggest maintaining a healthy lifestyle, like eating eye-friendly foods, to help prevent blindness. We also advise protecting your eyes by wearing proper safety eyewear and sunglasses. Most importantly, you should have eye exams regularly. This way, we can immediately identify vision problems and provide prompt management, giving us more chances to preserve your eyesight.
4. Individuals with Low Vision Can Never Live Independently
By turning to your trusted low vision specialist, we can help preserve and strengthen your remaining useful visual capacity. We will create a rehabilitation program to enhance the coordination between your neurologic and visual systems. This may involve performing a set of eye exercises or activities for a certain period. We may also include using prisms, audio books, and other relevant visual aids. Rest assured we’ll continuously monitor your progress to help you regain your independence and improve your quality of life.
If you have any further clarifications about common low vision myths, call us at (717) 609-4443 or fill out our form. We serve PA families in Shippensburg, Greencastle, and nearby Pennsylvania areas.