Low vision and legal blindness

With review and feedback from CEENTA Ophthalmologist Wei Huang, MD (Huntersville)

As people lose their vision, some may say, either seriously or jokingly, that they’re going blind. But there is a spectrum where more serious vision loss can fall, called the low vision spectrum.

What is low vision?

If someone’s vision in their best eye is only 20/70, even with best corrective lenses, they have low vision. Low vision cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. It can interfere with everyday activities like reading, driving, watching TV, and even recognizing faces. Most common causes include macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.

What does it mean to be legally blind?

On the far end of this spectrum is legal blindness. Someone is considered legally blind if their central visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or their widest diameter of visual field is no greater than 20 degrees, CEENTA Ophthalmologist Wei Huang, MD, said. This is the point in the United States where they would qualify for legal or government assistance.

How is severe vision loss treated?

The first step is determining what exactly is causing your low vision. Once an ophthalmologist determines that, treatment plans can be discussed. However, in many cases, like with glaucoma, lost vision cannot be restored. The best that can be done is to treat the cause early and continue monitoring it so vision loss doesn’t deteriorate.

Can CEENTA’s doctors help me with low vision?

CEENTA’s has ophthalmologist in North and South Carolina who are fellowship-trained and have special interests in eye conditions that cause low vision. If you are concerned about your eyes’ health, schedule an appointment at CEENTA today.

This blog is for informational purposes. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor.