February is Low Vision Awareness Month

When your eyesight cannot be improved with eyeglasses or contacts it is considered low vision impairment. February is Low Vision Awareness month and was created to help promote the conditions and causes of low vision and the many technological advances that have been developed to improve or treat these conditions.

Common causes of low vision include the following:

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Macular Degeneration

Cataract surgery is one of the most successful and frequently performed surgeries in the United States, with more than 3 million performed annually. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain very good vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40. Instead of seeing fuzzy blurry images, sight is restored and in many instances patients no longer have to rely on eye glasses.

Glaucoma can be successfully managed and treated, especially when there is early detection. Eye drops, medication, laser surgery, traditional surgery or a combination of these can treat Glaucoma and prevent further damage to the eyes.

Macular Degeneration is an age associated disease that gradually destroys sharp, central vision and mostly occurs in individuals 60 years and older. It can occur so slowly that one might not be aware of its occurrence. Therefore, it is important to have annual eye exams for early detection and treatment. Depending upon the type and extent of Macular Degeneration several forms of treatments can be used including laser surgery, photodynamic therapy and eye injections.