LIVING WITH LOW VISION

by Marshall Flax, MS, Certified Low Vision Therapist

“My mother’s eye doctor has just told her that she is legally blind! She can no longer drive, can’t read the paper or her mail, and she’s becoming reluctant to socialize with her friends. Is it safe for her to live on her own? Won’t she hurt herself? Doesn’t she need someone to take care of all of her needs, now? Can you tell me the name of a nursing home for people who are legally blind?”

Questions like this flood the mind of the care provider who has just learned that a friend or relative has low vision. A recent survey by the American Foundation for the Blind indicates that Americans fear loss of sight as much or more than other debilitating conditions such as paralysis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks/disease. An older adult, who grew up in a world where almost any disability could mean an inability to live independently, may have internalized this kind of irrational fear of vision loss, and may think that total dependence is the only solution.

Fortunately, for the vast majority of persons with age-related vision loss, this is no longer the case. Improvements in technology and the quality of rehabilitation services have made it possible for persons with low vision to live safely and independently.

What is low vision?

Low vision is a permanent impairment to one’s ability to see, that cannot be corrected by medical treatments (surgery, medications) or regular glasses. A person with low vision is not totally blind—he or she has some useful vision—but may not be able to read print, recognize faces, or drive a car.

The leading causes of low vision (in the US) are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts. Other causes can include head injuries, strokes, or diseases that affect the blood vessels that feed the nerve cells in and around the eyes. Although some of these conditions can lead to a total loss of vision, usually the result is low vision.

Medical treatment vs. rehabilitation

Many times, a person with low vision believes that he or she has exhausted all possibilities for regaining the ability to use one’s eyes because many excellent eye doctors have been consulted, and the latest treatments, if any are available, have been applied. This is not the same thing as low vision rehabilitation .

While the physician’s best efforts may not completely restore eyesight, low vision rehabilitation can often help a person regain the ability to read or write, even with impaired eyesight. This is accomplished by providing instruction in how to use one’s remaining vision, how to use optical aids (magnifiers, telescopes), and how to use non-visual techniques and strategies to get something done. Much like recovering from a stroke, when the body cannot be mended any further, there are often ways “to get around the problem.”

Resources for low vision

Consumers with low vision should seek certified professionals to help them with their rehabilitation. Just as one seeks help with hearing loss— an exam by the ENT and referral to the audiologist for an aid to specifically help the individual’s unique situation—vision rehabilitation should follow a similar course.

Start with your eye doctor. Let him or her know that, while you appreciate the medical care that has been provided, many activities are frustrating or impossible to do. Give examples like reading the mail and paying bills or reading recipes and package directions.

Ask your eye doctor to recommend a specialist who can assist with low vision rehabilitation. This may lead to a referral to another eye care provider who specializes in low vision, or your eye doctor may refer you directly to a low vision therapist.

If you’re unable to find a resource this way, contact local public agencies (Wisconsin Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 608-266-3109) or private, nonprofit organizations (Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 608-255-1166 or 1-800-783-5213).

The loss of eyesight is often a substantial blow, and it may feel like watching a part of yourself die. But there are resources available to help you continue to live a safe, independent and quality life.

Help can be as close as a phone call away!