Visual Impairment
Chicago, Illinois
Visual impairment is defined as a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contacts, or even refractive surgery. Globally, around 285 million people suffer from visual impairment, but statistics from the World Health Organization show that 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or cured before it results in permanent vision loss. This is one of many reasons why it is so important to see an experienced ophthalmologist for regular check-ups and eye exams.
Types of Visual Impairment
According to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, visual acuity and impairment are classified as follows:
- Low vision – Visual acuity ranging from 20/70 to 20/400 after best possible correction.
- Legal blindness – Visual acuity of 20/200 or worse after best possible correction.
- Blindness – Visual acuity worse than 20/400 after best possible correction.
- Total vision loss – Complete darkness of the visual fields.
Visual impairment is not the same thing as an eye disorder; rather, visual impairment is the functional consequence of certain eye disorders when they are left untreated.
Causes of Visual Impairment
Many different eye disorders and eye diseases can cause visual impairment if they are never treated. Some of the most common causes of visual impairment are:
- Glaucoma – This condition causes your visual field to gradually narrow, starting at the peripheries, until total vision loss occurs.
- Macular degeneration – The sharp central vision you need for activities like reading and driving becomes blurred and obscured
- Cataracts – Your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, causing vision to become blurry and distorted. Total vision loss is possible if cataracts are not surgically removed.
- Diabetic retinopathy – Diabetes often causes the smaller blood vessels and arteries in the back of your eyes to become damaged. Floating shapes or black spots may appear in your visual field. Retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults.
- High myopia – Especially high degrees of myopia can lead to visual impairment.
As the elderly population in the United States continues to grow, researchers estimate that the number of adults with visual impairment will double in the coming years. If you have problems with your vision, get treatment now before your condition has time to develop into a serious visual impairment.
Two Locations:
Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60611 | Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
2010 S Arlington Heights Rd, Suite 121
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
