Skip left navigation

Home > A-Z Health Topics > Illnesses and Disabilities > Types of illnesses and disabilities > Vision loss and blindness

Vision loss and blindness

• More information on vision loss and blindness

Low vision, or vision loss, means that even with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, you still have problems seeing. Low vision can result from a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries that affect the eye. The most common causes of low vision among adults in the United States are:

• Diabetic retinopathy (ret-uhn-OP-uh-thee), in which diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye).

• Age-related macular degeneration, in which cells in the retina that allow you to see fine detail die.

• Glaucoma, in which the fluid pressure inside your eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve (the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain).

• Cataract, which is a clouding of the lens in your eye. The lens focuses light coming into the eye onto the retina.

Although these eye diseases are more common among older people, vision loss is not a normal part of aging. Sometimes, vision loss can be prevented. Routine eye exams can spot vision problems early. Prompt treatment can sometimes prevent vision problems from getting worse.

If you have some vision loss, visual aids such as special glasses and large print books can make life easier. You may need to learn new ways of doing things to make the best use of your remaining vision. Seek help for feelings of depression or anxiety, which are common in people losing their vision.

People with no vision also have many resources to keep them living independently. Braille books and computer programs that convert text into speech are examples of assistive technologies. Many people who are blind or have low vision rely on service animals, such as a Seeing Eye dog, to help them live independently.

Return to top

More information on vision loss and blindness

Explore other publications and websites

• Blindness/Visual Impairment (Copyright © National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities) — This publication offers information on visual impairments including definition, incidence, characteristics, and educational implications.
  http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/visualimpairment
• Etiquette (Copyright © American Foundation for the Blind) — This website offers advice on etiquette when interacting with a relative or friend who has low vision or is blind. Topics include tact and courtesy, communication, being a sighted guide, and giving directions.
  http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=36&TopicID=163
• Helping a Loved One — This guide is written for the loved ones of those with low vision. It provides strategies to help you communicate more effectively with your loved one and other related resources.
  http://www.nei.nih.gov/lowvision/content/helping.asp
• Living With Low Vision (Copyright © Prevent Blindness America) — This publication lists steps you can take to help keep your independence when living with low vision.
  http://www.preventblindness.org/living-low-vision
• Low Vision — This publication provides information on low vision, including an explanation of the different risk factors and causes. It also provides information on the different signs and symptoms and possible rehabilitation techniques to correct low vision.
  http://nihseniorhealth.gov/lowvision/toc.html
• Pregnancy and Your Vision (Copyright © Prevent Blindness America) — Pregnancy can temporarily affect aspects of your vision. This fact sheet has all the information you need to know about changing vision during pregnancy and what you can do to maintain healthy eyes. From this web page, you can also order a free Expectant Parents Vision Care Package.
  http://www.preventblindness.org/pregnancy-and-your-vision
• Social Security: If You Are Blind or Have Low Vision — How We Can Help — This booklet explains the services available to people who are legally blind or have low vision so they can get the most out of Social Security programs.
  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10052.html
• Vision Impairment — this web page links to information on vision impairment, including prevalence, causes, and the economic impact.
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddvi.htm
• What You Should Know About Low Vision — This booklet helps people with vision loss and their families and friends better understand low vision. It describes how to get help for vision loss and tips for living safely and more independently.
  http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/lowvision/LowVisPatBro2.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Foundation for the Blind
  http://www.afb.org/
• Foundation Fighting Blindness
  http://www.blindness.org/
• National Eye Institute, NIH, HHS
  http://www.nei.nih.gov/
• Prevent Blindness America
  http://www.preventblindness.org/

Content last updated September 22, 2009.

Resources last updated September 22, 2009.

Email Print

Return to top