February is Low Vision Awareness Month. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 7 million Americans have low vision.
A myriad of diseases and health conditions can cause low vision, so it’s crucial to monitor your vision health by having regular eye-exams.
What is Low Vision?
Low Vision is the loss of eyesight that is not correctable with glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. The impairment may make everyday activities such as reading, writing, watching television and recognizing faces difficult. While low vision can occur at any age, most people diagnosed are 65 and older.
Causes and Symptoms
Typically low vision is a result of eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or retinitis pigmentosa. Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty matching colors of your clothes
- Loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Night blindness
- Blurred vision
Diagnosis
Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to determine if you have low vision based off your medical history and results of a vision care exam. Upon diagnosis, they should also be able to offer/suggest resources that will help utilize your remaining vision.
About the Author
Emily Shrader
Marketing Manager
Emily started at VBA as the Marketing Assistant in January 2016. She worked to create and maintain VBA’s blog, regulate all social media channels, and develop our e-mail marketing campaigns. Prior to joining our team, she was the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for The Catholic Cemeteries Association. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Pennsylvania State University in 2013.
In December 2017, Emily began her role as Marketing Manager. Her main responsibilities include day-to-day relationship management and project management of our strategic marketing initiatives, assisting in planning and implementing marketing objectives and continuing to develop needed marketing materials and branded collateral pieces.
Emily was born and raised in Pittsburgh and currently resides in McCandless Township. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and, of course, cheering on the Nittany Lions.
