Low vision refers to vision loss that cannot be corrected by medical or surgical treatments or conventional lenses. A person with low vision must learn to adjust to it. The good news: There are many ways to help so that people with low vision can continue to do things that are important to them. Losing vision does not mean giving up activities, but it may mean learning new ways to do them.

Vision rehabilitation helps patients to learn new strategies and find devices that can assist them. Low vision includes different degrees of sight loss, from blind spots, poor night vision, and problems with glare to an almost complete loss of sight. Low Vision defines as two categories:

• “Partially sighted”: the person has visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 with conventional prescription lenses.
• “Legally blind”: the person has visual acuity no better than 20/200 with conventional correction and/or a restricted field of vision less than 20 degrees wide.

The ratio measurement of vision describes visual acuity, or the sharpness of vision, at 20 feet from an object. For example, having a 20/70 vision means that you must be at 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 70 feet.

Anyone can be affected by the low vision because it results from a variety of conditions and injuries. Because of age-related disorders like macular degeneration and glaucoma, low vision is more common in adults over age 45 and even more common in adults over age 75. For example, one in six adults over age 45 has a low vision; one in four adults over age 75 has low vision.

• Loss of central vision: There is a blind spot in the center of one’s vision.
• Loss of peripheral (side) vision: The inability to see anything to either side, above, or below eye level. Central vision, however, remains intact.
• Night blindness: The inability to see in poorly lit areas such as theaters, as well as outside at night.
• Blurred vision: Objects both near and far appear out of focus.
• Hazy vision: The entire field of vision appears to be covered with a film or glare.

• Disorders or injuries affecting the eye
• Diabetes that affects the entire body
• Glaucoma
• Low vision may also result from cancer of the eye
• Albinism
• Brain injury
• Retinitis Pigmentosa

Low vision cannot be fully corrected. However, there are a wide array of devices to help people with low vision, including tinted eyewear to help with light sensitivity and contrast, magnifiers (hand held and for digital or computer use), and large-print reading materials or audio recordings.

There are certain eye care professionals who specialize in rehabilitation for low vision, who can help you continue many of your normal activities with some modifications.

It’s important to acknowledge the anger and frustration you may feel if you learn that your vision loss is irreversible. Getting help to work through these feelings and learn about the strategies of vision rehabilitation will help keep you stay active and avoid depression.

You can live well with low vision but you cannot live well with depression. Counseling and a good support group can help you recognize that your value does not depend on your vision. You are worth the effort it takes to learn how to make the most of the vision you have.

Don’t isolate yourself. Keep your social group, job or outside activities. You might need large print, a magnifier, someone to drive you to events or additional help to participate in sports. Ask for the help you need. Staying home to avoid asking for help is not independence. Friends are honored to be asked.

1. For patients of central visual loss for eg Dry macular degeneration, we can implant a special lens which has a small zone in the centre which acts as a magnifying glass
2. Implantable miniaturized telescope -This is a tiny device which we implant to magnify the central vision
3. Retinal implants for eg Argus II – These devices are in development and hold the promise of better vision for totally blind people in the future.