Vision Loss & Low Vision Glossary

What is low vision?

Low vision is a visual impairment, not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, that interferes with a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Visual Enhancements provides quality low vision reading and lifestyle aids, returning visual independence.

Visual Enhancements Vision Glossary

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
An eye disease that results in a loss of central, "straight-ahead" vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #01)

Cataract
A clouding of the lens of the eye. People with cataracts see through a haze. In a usually safe and successful surgery, the cloudy lens can be replaced with a plastic lens. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #02)

Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood sugar levels are above normal. Complications may lead to vision loss.  Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #03)

Diabetic eye disease
A group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #04)

Diabetic retinopathy
Damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #05)

Dilated eye exam
An eye examination where drops are placed in your eyes to widen or dilate the pupils. The eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine the retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #06)

Eye Care Professional
An optometrist or ophthalmologist. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #07)
 
Focal laser treatment
A laser surgery treatment where an ophthalmologist places up to several hundred small laser burns in the areas of retinal leakage surrounding the macula. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #08)

Glaucoma
An eye disease related to high pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve and leads to vision loss. Glaucoma affects peripheral, or side, vision. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #09)

Low Vision
A visual impairment, not corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery, that interferes with the ability to perform everyday activities. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #10)

Low Vision Reading Aids Visual and Adaptive Devices
Low Vision Reading Aids are examples of prescription and nonprescription devices that help people with low vision enhance their remaining vision. Some examples include magnifiers, talking calculators, large print books, check-writing guides, white canes, and telescopic lenses. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #11)

Macula
Small central area of the retina; area of acute central vision. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #12)

Macular edema
When fluid leaks into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs making the macula swell, blurring vision. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #13)

Mild non-proliferative retinopathy
The first stage of diabetic retinopathy where small areas of balloon-like swelling (micro aneurysms) occur in the tiny blood vessels of the retina. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #14)

Moderate non-proliferative retinopathy
The second stage of diabetic retinopathy where blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #15)

Ophthalmologist
A medical doctor, who diagnoses and treats all diseases and disorders of the eye, then can prescribe glasses and contact lenses.  Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #16)

Optic nerve
Largest sensory nerve of the eye; carries impulses for sight from the retina to the brain. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #17)

Optician
A trained professional who grinds, fits, and dispenses glasses by prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #18)

Optometrist
A primary eye care provider who prescribes glasses and contact lenses after diagnosing and to aid treating certain conditions and diseases of the eye. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #19)

Proliferative retinopathy
The fourth stage of diabetic retinopathy, where signals sent by the retina for nourishment, trigger the growth of new blood vessels which are abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and the surface of the clear vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye. By themselves, these blood vessels do not cause symptoms or vision loss; however, they have thin, fragile walls. If they leak blood, severe vision loss and even blindness can occur. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #20)

Scatter laser surgery
A laser surgery treatment where an ophthalmologist places 1,000 to 2,000 laser burns in the areas of the retina away from the macula, causing the abnormal blood vessels to shrink. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #21)

Severe non-proliferative retinopathy
The third stage of diabetic retinopathy where many more blood vessels are blocked, depriving several areas of the retina of blood supply. These areas of the retina send signals to the body to grow new blood vessels for nourishment. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #22)

Specialist in Low Vision
An ophthalmologist or optometrist who specializes in the evaluation of low vision; this person can prescribe visual devices and teach people how to use them. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #23)

Tonometry
An instrument that measures the pressure inside your eye by using numbing drops which may be applied to your eye during this test. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #24)

Type 1 Diabetes
Formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked and destroyed them. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #25)

Type 2 Diabetes
Formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age-even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #26)

Vision Rehabilitation Teacher
A person who trains people with low vision on the use of optical and non-optical devices, adaptive techniques, and community resources. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #27)

Visual acuity test
An eye chart test that measures how well you see at various distances. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #28)

Vitrectomy
A surgical treatment where an ophthalmologist removes the vitreous gel and replaces it with a salt solution. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #29)

Vitreous gel
Transparent, colorless mass that fills the rear two-thirds of the eyeball, between the lens and the retina. Low Vision Reading Aid (LVRA #30)

About Visual Enhancements, Low Vision Aids

Visual Enhancements has been proudly providing world-class low vision reading aids and custom low vision solutions to individuals, families, businesses, medical helping professionals and organizations for over a decade. Contact us 877-236-7092

Low Vision Reading Aids include low vision products such as CCTV systems, hand held magnifiers, desk top systems, portable low vision aids, talking calculators, talking large print books, check-writing guides, and much more.

• Hand Held Low Vision Aids
• Distance Low Vision Reading Aids
• Desktop Low Vision Aids
• Speaking Low Vision Aids