Living With Low Vision

Leslie, I have a macular hole, my friend Laura tells me over the phone after being seen at an urgent appointment with a retina specialist. Laura could usually see and read without the need for her reading glasses, but when her vision started becoming blurrier, she noticed that her glasses didn’t seem that helpful despite […]

Though it is considered a rare genetic disorder, Usher Syndrome is the main cause of deaf-blindness and the most common condition that affects both vision and hearing. Usher Syndrome is a loss of hearing and an eye condition known as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Usher Syndrome is categorized into three types: Usher type I: People with Usher […]

In the United States more than 4 million adults and nearly 3% of children 18 and younger are blind or have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected by glasses or contacts. “Vision disability is one of the top 10 disabilities among adults 18 years and older and one of the most prevalent disabling conditions […]

Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not list by name all the disabilities or impairments it was created to protect, its purpose is to ensure the rights of individuals who have a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record […]

Nystagmus is an uncontrolled and involuntary movement of the eyes. The eyes may appear to wobble or shake. It is caused by a disturbance in the visual system that connects the eyes to those parts of the brain that analyze vision. There are two main types of nystagmus, congenital nystagmus develops in early childhood and […]

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can have detrimental effects on our daily vision as well as our everyday health. First, let’s define CVS. CVS is the result of someone spending hours looking at a digital screen whether it is a computer, cell phone, eBook reader, or iPad. It is too much constant near vision and not […]

There are many factors that contribute to the risk of falls, but vision problems are one of the main contributors. According to the report, Guidelines for Optometrists to Help Prevent Falls in Older Adults, there are predictable risk factors that include, increasing age, being female, gait or imbalance impairment, chronic health conditions like Parkinson’s, diabetes […]

If you have macular degeneration or low vision, have you considered joining a support group?  Support groups for those with macular degeneration or low vision can be found in your local area or you may find that the most convenient place for support and answers to your questions is online.  Why belong to a support […]

With summer in full swing, it’s important to remember some simple safety tips while enjoying some pool time or a dip in the open water.   Pool Swimming: Using lane markers such as color floats attached to ropes can help with orientation while swimming. Keeping track of the number of strokes will help you identify […]

One of the most common symptoms for those with macular degeneration (AMD) is the loss of clear vision making it difficult to read.  For those with a more advanced stage of AMD, there may be a smudge or a black spot right in the middle of one’s vision which interferes even more.  While handheld magnifiers […]