Macular Degeneration and Low Vision
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Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease that occurs when tissue in the macula, the part of your retina responsible for central vision, deteriorates. Degeneration of the macula causes blurred central vision, or a blind spot in the center of your visual field. This disease usually develops gradually. Symptoms may vary depending on which of the two types of macular degeneration you have: dry or wet.
With dry macular degeneration, you may notice that you need more light when reading, have difficulty adapting to lower levels of lights, increase in blurriness, difficulty recognizing faces, and/or a blurred or blind sport in the center of your visual field. With wet macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and slowly work their way into the macular region. Symptoms include visual distortions, a central blurry spot in your visual field, and/or a decrease in or loss of central vision.
Because central vision is affected while side vision remains, some people may not notice a change or problem. Vision begins to be dramatically affected when the disease develops in both eyes. Although total sight loss is uncommon, it can manifest to the point where you may be considered legally blind.
Low Vision
The term “low vision” refers to having such reduced eyesight that tasks in everyday life become challenging, even with eyeglasses. Signs of low vision include difficulty recognizing a familiar face, difficulty in reading, and/or difficulty seeing objects and potential obstacles.
Pathologies which may cause vision acuity loss include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” is the leading cause of visual impairment in children. Amblyopia usually occurs because both eyes do not see with the same degree of clarity, resulting in blurred or double vision.
• Cataracts occur when clouds develop within the lens of the eye.
• Diabetic Retinopathy is damage to the retina caused by complications of diabetes mellitus. New blood vessels form in or under the retina, causing them to break and cause damage.
• Glaucoma occurs when there is an increase in pressure inside the eye which, left untreated, can lead to permanent damage of the optic nerve.
• Optic Atrophy is the loss of some or most of the optic nerve fibers due to disease or injury.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa occurs when small pigment spots develop at the edges of the retina and eventually increase in number, and move toward the center of the retina. Signs of this condition include night blindness and tunnel vision.
Helen Keller Services for the Blind is here to assist you. At our Low Vision Clinics, doctors teach patients how to maximize the remaining use of their vision. In addition, they provide instructions in daily living tasks and vision rehabilitation. For more information about Low Vision Rehabilitation or to make an appointment, please call us.
New York City: 718-522-2122
Nassau County: 516-485-1234
Suffolk County: 631-424-0022
