Low vision is almost what it sounds like; it is a condition in which your ability to see is very bad and not correctable. In other words, you can see some things, but you can't simply get a prescription for eyeglasses or contacts to correct your sight. You're not completely blind, however. If your sight has gotten to the point where your glasses or contacts simply aren't adequate, you'll want to see an optometrist for eye care. Low vision can be due to several conditions, and you need proper eye care to prevent your sight from getting worse. We at Legacy Optical in Hampton Bays, NY, and Suffolk County, NY, are here to help with low vision.
Non-correctable – but You May Still Have Some Sight
Low vision can be a congenital optical problem, but it can also occur after you develop a condition like macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, or vision problems related to diabetes. While cataracts can generally be surgically fixed and diabetic sight problems treated to an extent, the others can't be. You may need additional visual aids – not vision correction, but aids like magnified text – to see even basic objects and shapes.
Low vision does not necessarily mean you're legally blind, depending on the source. Technically, low vision means you can't correct the vision loss through conventional means. However, if you have typical low vision that is non-correctible, you can still turn to assistive technology and aids like magnifiers. If the low vision includes problems with light, a light-filtering lens may be a good thing to have. It may be a good idea to undergo an eye exam to find out exactly how much sight you have and would go from there, if you have not already.
Contact An Optometrist or Eye Doctor on Our Team to Test You for Low Vision
We at Legacy Optical in Hampton Bays, NY, and Suffolk County, NY, have tests that can help distinguish between poor but correctable vision, and low vision. If you're having more trouble seeing, come in for an optical test right. The sooner you know what is going on, the sooner you can start to adjust your lifestyle appropriately or get the corrective eyewear that you need, if the vision problems aren't considered low vision. Call us at (631) 728-3132. We'll set up an appointment with an eye doctor on our team for you so that you can finally find out what's happening to your eyes and vision, whether it is cause by macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, or more.