A visual impairment, not corrected by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, that interferes with a person’s ability to perform daily activities is called low vision. Low vision includes loss of visual acuity (blurred, obstructed, or spotty vision) and/or loss of visual field (narrow field of vision, or tunnel vision).

What Are the Symptoms of Low Vision?

Even with standard glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery to correct your vision, is it still difficult to:

• Recognize the faces of friends and relatives?
• Do things that require seeing well up close, like reading, cooking, sewing, or making repairs around the house?
• Match the color of clothes?
• Do things at work or home because lights seem dimmer than they used to?
• Read street and bus signs or the names of stores?

What Can be Done About Low Vision?

Vision rehabilitation can help individuals live more safely and independently, even if they have a visual impairment that is not correctable with standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. People should ask their eye care professional about how to make the most of their remaining vision and how to continue to perform everyday activities.

Many Americans with low vision have difficulty reading mail, shopping, cooking, and watching TV. The challenges associated with vision loss can seem overwhelming at times and may result in feelings of anxiety, frustration, or depression.

Vision rehabilitation cannot restore vision to the normal range, but it can help people make the most of remaining vision.

Eye care and vision rehabilitation professionals can help people find information and support for coping with low vision. Vision rehabilitation services—programs, devices, and technology—help people adapt to their environments and learn new ways of doing things to improve their safety, independence, and confidence. Most importantly, vision rehabilitation services can help people with low vision maintain their everyday activities and continue to enjoy life.