Adapting to reduced vision from glaucoma
Why is it important to make accommodations and learn to use vision aids and other adaptive technologies?
Although making accommodations, using vision aids, and learning to use adaptive technologies may not improve your vision, they can help you to make the best use of your remaining vision and can make living with reduced vision much easier and safer. Low vision due to glaucoma should not prevent you from leading a full and active life. It is important to keep in mind that even though glaucoma may affect your vision, if detected early and treated, it does not necessarily cause complete blindness. Many people retain some vision.
Following a low-vision evaluation, your eye care doctor will be able to suggest specific accommodations to make the best use of your vision. These may include:
- New prescriptions for corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses. Although lenses cannot treat or restore vision loss from glaucoma, corrective lenses can sometimes help you make better use of your remaining vision. For example, lenses that magnify what you see may help compensate for some loss of central vision.
- Learning to compensate for blind spots (scotomas) and other defects in your visual field. People with normal vision rely on their sharp central vision. If you have lost central vision from glaucoma, your doctor or a low-vision specialist may be able to help you learn to better use other areas of your visual field and how to focus your attention on objects that are not at the center of your visual field. These techniques, called eccentric fixation training, may take some time to learn and do not work for everyone.
Using low-vision aids and adaptive technology may help you make the best use of your remaining vision. Your doctor can also refer you to counseling, rehabilitation, and training specialists who can help you adjust to living with low vision. The more skills and resources you learn to use, the more you will be able to do. By learning to live with your reduced vision, you can continue to work, live independently, and preserve your mobility as much as possible.
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: July 7, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology | |
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