If you have low vision, you have likely been to see a number of doctors regarding this condition. A common vision problem that afflicts people aged fifty and over is age related macular degeneration. This condition is caused when the macula, located in the retina of the eye, becomes weakened to the point that your central vision is diminished. Central vision is crucial for reading, driving, playing cards, sewing, watching television or working at a computer screen. Low vision specialists, however, can offer you an appropriate range of low vision devices that can help improve your sight so that you can participate in the daily activities that you enjoy.

Who are vision problems Specialists?

There are doctors who work in low vision centers and focus on vision problems that cause low vision in patients. These low vision specialists can be optometrists or ophthalmologists, and their goal is to help make the most of the sight you do have.

How Can Low Vision Be Improved?

Vision problems can often be lessened through the use of low vision products. The specific type of low vision devices that would work for you depend on the type of vision help you require.

If you happen to have age related macular degeneration, for example, there is a loss of the central area of vision to a greater or lesser degree; however, the peripheral vision often remains clear and accurate. Because of this localization of vision loss, you might not need anything stronger than your regular eyeglass prescription for your peripheral vision. Your central vision could benefit from a variety of low vision products designed to help provide the type of vision you need to participate in the activities you desire.

Activities can require near vision, mid vision or distance vision in order to perform them. Reading, working at a tabletop, and writing all utilize near vision, which can be improved with magnification. Activities such as watching television, live theatre or motion pictures utilize far vision. Distance vision can be maximized through the use of telescopes.
Magnifiers used for close vision activities can be as simple as a hand-held device, or can be a type of lens that is inserted into your eyeglass frames. Both can be useful depending on what you are doing and whether you need your hands free or not while doing it.

For far vision improvement, tiny telescopes are placed on the top of the eyeglass lens, and the wearer can either look through the telescope or through the lens of the glasses by shifting the head up or down, much as is done when wearing bifocals.

Low vision specialists can help answer your questions about which devices will best help you see to engage in the activities you want, and can help you learn how to use them to maximum advantage.