Low Vision
Nearly 2 million people in the UK are affected by low vision, but you can maximise poor eyesight if it's dealt with properly.
What is low vision?
Low vision is when a person’s sight can't necessarily be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
Low vision doesn't develop just because of old age. Your vision can get worse as a result of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
According to the RNIB, around 2 million people have significant sight loss in the UK. This includes an estimated 80,000 people of working age and 25,000 children.
Very few people have complete ‘black’ blindness, so any residual vision (remaining eyesight) needs to be maximised. People come to a clinic hoping that a pair of glasses will fix their vision, but this often is not so. Low vision is treated by maximising the patient’s eyesight beyond what glasses or contact lenses can achieve, and by managing a patient’s expectations.
Other sources of information
