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Vision Impairment and Blindness
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/visionimpairmentandblindness.html

Vision Impairment and Blindness

Also called: Low vision
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis and Tests

Learn More

  • Living With
  • Related Issues
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Images
  • Videos and Tutorials
  • Test Your Knowledge

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Reference Desk
  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Children
  • Teenagers
  • Older Adults
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

What is vision impairment?

Vision impairment is the loss of vision. It includes blindness, which means that you have lost all or most of your sight. It also includes low vision, which means you have some vision, but the vision loss makes it hard to do everyday activities. You may have trouble reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV. Low vision can't be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery.

What causes vision impairment?

Aging doesn't cause vision loss on its own. But many diseases that are more common in older adults can cause it. The leading causes of low vision and blindness in the United States are age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Other eye disorders, eye injuries, and birth defects can also cause vision loss.

How is vision impairment diagnosed?

Vision impairment is diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Early warning signs of a vision problem can include not being able to see well enough to:

  • Do everyday tasks like reading and driving
  • Recognize people's faces
  • Tell the difference between colors
  • See the television or computer screen clearly

You can have these symptoms even though you are wearing glasses or contacts.

What are the types of low vision?

There are several types of low vision. Which type you have depends on the condition that caused your low vision.

Common types of low vision include:

  • Central vision loss (not being able to see things in the center of your vision)
  • Peripheral (side) vision loss (not being able to see things out of the corners of your eyes)
  • Night blindness (not being able to see in low light)
  • Blurry or hazy vision

What are the treatments for low vision?

Low vision is permanent. Glasses, medicine, and surgery can't cure low vision. But sometimes they can improve your vision, help you do everyday activities more easily, or keep your remaining vision.

Your treatment options will depend on the condition that caused your low vision. Ask your eye doctor which treatments might help you. They may recommend vision aids or vision rehabilitation, which might make everyday activities easier.

Vision rehabilitation teaches you how to live with your vision loss. It may include:

  • Showing you how to use a magnifying device or screen readers for reading
  • Helping you set up your home so you can move around more easily
  • Employment and job training
  • Assistive devices, like lighting and reading stands

Your provider may suggest other resources, such as transportation and household services, to help you cope with your vision loss.

How can I make the most of my remaining sight?

The sooner vision loss or eye disease is found and treated, the greater your chances of keeping your remaining vision. Whatever the cause, lost vision cannot be restored. But it can be managed. A loss of vision means you may have to reorganize your life and learn new ways of doing things. Your provider may make suggestions to help make life easier. These may include:

If you have some vision:

  • Visual aids such as magnifiers
  • Telescopic glasses or monoculars for seeing distance
  • Large print books
  • Clocks with larger numbers
  • Brighter lights
  • Anti-glare sunglasses or glare shields

If you have no vision (blindness):

  • Devices like text-reading software and braille books

Can vision impairment be prevented?

You can help take care of your vision by:

  • Having regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye care professional
  • Wearing sunglasses and protective eyewear to protect your eyes
  • Making lifestyle changes to lower your risk of health conditions that can cause vision problems:
    • Getting regular physical activity
    • Staying at a healthy weight
    • Quitting smoking (or not starting)
    • Eating a healthy diet

NIH: National Eye Institute

Start Here

  • Low Vision From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

  • Eye Symptoms (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Dilating Eye Drops (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
  • Eye Exam and Vision Testing Basics (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Living With

  • Assistive Devices: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Low Vision Rehabilitation Teams and Services (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
  • Rehabilitation for Blindness (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
  • What Is Low Vision? (American Foundation for the Blind)

Related Issues

  • Abnormal Head Position (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
  • Talking with Your Eye Doctor From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • Alström syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Autosomal recessive congenital stationary night blindness: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Bradyopsia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Choroideremia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Fundus albipunctatus: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Manitoba oculotrichoanal syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Mucolipidosis type IV: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Ophthalmo-acromelic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • RAB18 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Wagner syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • X-linked congenital stationary night blindness: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Images

  • Eye Disease Simulations From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute)

Videos and Tutorials

  • Seeing Video (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

  • Braille Bug: Games (American Foundation for the Blind)

Statistics and Research

  • Eye Health Data and Statistics From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Fast Facts: Vision Loss (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Blindness From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Vision Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Vision, Low From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Building capacity: paediatric vision screening in elementary schools.
  • Article: Life in stop motion: a review of akinetopsia.
  • Article: Depressive and anxiety symptoms, and their associated factors among adult, visually...
  • Vision Impairment and Blindness -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • How the Eyes Work From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

  • American Foundation for the Blind
  • Find an Ophthalmologist (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
  • Finding an Eye Doctor From the National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute)
  • National Eye Institute From the National Institutes of Health

Children

  • About the Eye From the National Institutes of Health Video (National Eye Institute)
  • Delayed Visual Maturation (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
  • Keep an Eye on Your Child's Vision (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Your Child's Vision (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Your Eyes (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

  • Visual Impairment (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

  • Aging and Your Eyes From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
  • Your Aging Eyes: How You See as Time Goes By From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Patient Handouts

  • Blindness and vision loss (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Home vision tests (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Living with vision loss (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Vision - night blindness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Vision problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Vision Impairment and Blindness

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Blindness and vision loss
  • Home vision tests
  • Living with vision loss
  • Ophthalmoscopy
  • Seeing
  • Standard eye exam
  • Uveitis
  • Vision - night blindness
  • Vision problems
  • Visual acuity test
  • Visual field

Related Health Topics

  • Amblyopia
  • Assistive Devices
  • Cataract
  • Diabetic Eye Problems
  • Eye Care
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eye Injuries
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Retinal Disorders

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Vision Impairment and Blindness is the National Eye Institute

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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