Using Low Vision Magnifiers

Author: Susan Slobac

Correcting Vision Problems Requires the Help of low vision magnifiers
It is vital that everyone get regular eye examinations in order to insure good eye health, and this is particularly true of adults aged fifty and older. Older adults are more at risk for developing macular degeneration. The result of macular degeneration is a loss of central vision, although peripheral vision usually remains intact. If you have macular degeneration, you will want to have regular eye examinations by a low vision doctor, who can recommend appropriate macular degeneration treatment suitable for correcting vision problems that you may be experiencing.

How Does a Low Vision Doctor Go About Correcting Vision Problems Related to Macular Degeneration?

The first step a low vision specialist will take is to assess the symptoms you are exhibiting. Blurred vision is one of the most common symptoms, with a lessening of visual acuity in the central field of vision. Depending on the type of macular degeneration, vision loss could be gradual or rapid. Another symptom is that when you look at a grid of straight lines, the lines appear wavy, or portions of the lines are not visible at all. Sometimes patients find it difficult to tell the difference between two dark colors or two light colors.

If, after a complete eye examination, the doctor determines that you have macular degeneration, there are several types of macular degeneration treatment that he or she could suggest. The good news is that macular degeneration does not usually cause complete blindness. The lessened vision is localized to approximately thirty percent of the total vision field, in the central part of the field. The other seventy percent of the vision field, located in the peripheral vision around the center of the eye, is often unaffected and perfectly able to function at normal levels. Central vision, however, is crucial to several important tasks, such as reading and driving. The macula controls the detail vision that allows for these activities.

Many people find that low vision aids, including low vision magnifiers, are extremely helpful in correcting vision problems associated with macular degeneration. Low vision magnifiers can be used as an aid for the all-important activity of reading. Magnifiers can come in simple hand- held models, as well as types that rest on the arm. Other magnifiers can be attached to glasses, so that you can use the magnifier when you need it for detail work, and then flip it out of the way when you are doing mid- and far-range vision activities.

There are other low vision aids, such as bioptic lenses, that can be helpful in correcting vision problems associated with macular degeneration. Check with your doctor to determine which types of aids would be best for your needs.