Cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, retinopathy … the eye can be affected by serious and often degenerative diseases. They can cause further decline in visual acuity and a decreased field of vision. Some can lead to blindness. Anyone can suffer from low vision at any age but the prevalence is higher among the elderly. ‘Low vision’, is the term used for moderate or severe visual impairment that cannot be improved by medication, glasses, contact lenses or surgery.
Eye diseases:
what consequences?
These diseases affect the central or peripheral vision or both:
– Impairment of central vision causes difficulties in reading, writing, precision work, recognizing colors or faces. AMD is the most common cause,
– impairment of peripheral vision causes difficulty moving around without bumping into objects because the field of vision is reduced as though the person is looking through a tunnel. Advanced glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa can be the cause,
– overall vision impairment that features visual disorders like those of the two conditions mentioned above. Diabetic retinopathy and cataracts are the most common causes.
It is absolutely essential, particularly from the age of 50, to have regular eye examinations with an ophthalmologist / optometrist to detect the appearance of any symptoms.
