What is a Low Vision Exam?
Low vision is the loss of sight that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or other standard treatments like medication or surgery. Low vision can include blind spots, poor night vision, and blurry eyesight. In adults, the most common causes are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
During a low vision eye exam your low vision eye doctor will measure your remaining vision and help prescribe low vision aids that can maximize your remaining vision and restore your independence.
What is a Low Vision Exam?
A low vision exam includes components that are not usually part of a standard eye exam. After checking your visual clarity, your low vision eye doctor will further examine the nature of your vision loss. This will help the doctor to determine how low vision may be affecting your daily life. The eye doctor will then explore how both regular glasses and various low vision aids can improve your vision, and discuss many other solutions to help you regain as much daily function as possible.
Before conducting any tests, your eye doctor will ask you questions related to your eye health and general health, and whether eye problems run in your family. You will also be asked how well you see objects like street signs, stove dials, printed materials, and television screens. Your close up/distance vision and contrast sensitivity will also be assessed.
Your doctor may assess ocular functions like color vision and contrast sensitivity. Visual acuity is measured by using special low vision test charts, which include a larger range of letters or numbers to more accurately determine the level of impairment. Visual fields may also be evaluated. A specific form of optical refraction may also be performed to find the optimum prescription for each eye, delivering the best visual clarity possible.
Low Vision Aids
There are now many low vision aids that can successfully provide the optimum vision for your condition. Many people with low vision discover that low vision devices significantly improve their quality of life. Popular low vision devices include:
- Telescopic glasses
- Lenses that filter light
- Magnifying glasses
- Hand magnifiers
- Reading prisms
Low vision devices improve both sight and the quality of life for the people who use them.
Contact Low Vision Optometry of Central Pennsylvania to book a low vision exam today. We provide low vision exams and many options that can drastically improve your vision and wellbeing. Contact us to discuss your options to reclaim your vision and your life.
Low Vision Optometry of Central Pennsylvania serves patients from Lititz, Lancaster, York, and Hershey, throughout Pennsylvania.