Hope
for people with Low Vision - you're clearly not blind, but you
can't see clearly
While some vision problems can be treated or corrected with
spectacles, medication or surgery to restore normal vision, others
persist due to permanent loss of function of certain structures
of the eye. When all corrective measures have been exhausted,
the remaining vision is referred to as ‘Low Vision ’.
Even though you no longer have perfect or normal vision,
you still have some remaining vision (Low Vision) that allows
you to maintain independence.
Symptoms
Not everybody experiences Low Vision in the same way. Depending
on the cause of vision loss and where the problem is in the eye,
the vision may be described as:
- Hazy or cloudy
- Blank, dark spots or wavy lines in the centre of the vision
- Reduced side vision, resulting in difficulty to move around
- Reduced colour and contrast perception, resulting in poor
definition of objects
- Shadows in the visual field or patchy vision
- Extreme sensitivity to bright light
- An inability to function in dimmed lighting
Causes
Some babies are born with Low Vision due to birth defects or
hereditary factors. Low Vision might also be acquired later
in life as a result of an injury to the eye or any number of
eye related conditions such as glaucoma, retinal detachment,
macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.
See panel alongside for more information on these conditions.
Regular visits to an eye care professional will ensure early
identification and possible treatment of visual disorders.
Can anything be done to help?
 Yes.
Once the best possible medical, surgical and optometric care
has been given, people with Low Vision can be helped to make
the most of their remaining vision by focussing on, among others:
- Lighting, colour and contrast
- The size of objects
- The distance from objects
- Finding the right low vision device for a specific task
- Learning new visual skills e.g. to look sideways at an object
to see it better, rather than looking straight ahead
- Learning to concentrate on the other senses e.g. hearing
and touch to compensate for the loss of vision
People with Low Vision can continue to perform most of the visual
tasks needed to maintain their individual lifestyles, if they
have:
- some usable vision
- the desire to maintain their lifestyles
- the support of their family and friends
- the willingness to adapt (do things differently)
What are low vision devices?
Low Vision devices make images appear larger, clearer and easier
to see. These may include:
- Special reading glasses
- Magnifiers (pocket size, stand mounted, handheld, clip-on
and illuminated)
- Telescopes to magnify objects in the distance
- UV shields to reduce glare and increase contrast
- Non-optical devices e.g. talking watches, signature guides
and needle threaders
- Electronic reading devices
What can I expect from a 'Low Vision
Service'?
A Low Vision service provides access to a multi-disciplinary
team of professionals and a range of assistive devices that will
smooth the process of adjusting to the challenge of living with
low vision. Low Vision Services strive to assist individuals
to:
- Understand the value and limitations of their remaining vision
- Learn visual skills to compensate for loss of function
- Discover the importance of lighting, colour and contrast
to make objects more visible
- Select the right low vision devices to meet their specific
needs
- Obtain practical hints and tips
- Get emotional support for the individual and their families.
Where can I find a 'Low Vision Service’?
The Low Vision Clinic of the South African National Council
for the Blind in Pretoria provides a comprehensive service, including
optometric services, aimed at addressing the special needs of
people with low vision: even those with profound vision loss.
A component of the Eye Care Division and Bureau for the Prevention
of Blindness, the Low Vision Clinic is in the process of expanding
in various provinces.
For further information on services available, contact:
South African National Council for the Blind
Low Vision Clinic
P.O. Box 11149, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028
514 White Street, Baileys Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Tel: 012 452 3811
Fax: 012 346 1177
E-MAIL: admin@sancb.org.za or arlene@sancb.org.za
Click here
to download a full list of Low Vision clinics and contact numbers
Useful links
www.lighthouse.org
www.rnib.org
www.eyesite.co.za
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