Vision
What is vision impairment?
Vision impairment is the loss of vision. It includes blindness, which means that you have lost all or most of your sight. It also includes low vision, which means you have some vision, but the vision loss makes it hard to do everyday activities. You may have trouble reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV. Low vision can't be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery.
What causes vision impairment?Aging doesn't cause vision loss on its own. But many diseases that are more common in older adults can cause it. The leading causes of low vision and blindness in the United States are age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Other eye disorders, eye injuries, and birth defects can also cause vision loss.
How is vision impairment diagnosed?Vision impairment is diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Early warning signs of a vision problem can include not being able to see well enough to:
- Do everyday tasks like reading and driving
- Recognize people's faces
- Tell the difference between colors
- See the television or computer screen clearly
You can have these symptoms even though you are wearing glasses or contacts.
What are the types of low vision?There are several types of low vision. Which type you have depends on the condition that caused your low vision.
Common types of low vision include:
- Central vision loss (not being able to see things in the center of your vision)
- Peripheral (side) vision loss (not being able to see things out of the corners of your eyes)
- Night blindness (not being able to see in low light)
- Blurry or hazy vision
Low vision is permanent. Glasses, medicine, and surgery can't cure low vision. But sometimes they can improve your vision, help you do everyday activities more easily, or keep your remaining vision.
Your treatment options will depend on the condition that caused your low vision. Ask your eye doctor which treatments might help you. They may recommend vision aids or vision rehabilitation, which might make everyday activities easier.
Vision rehabilitation teaches you how to live with your vision loss. It may include:
- Showing you how to use a magnifying device or screen readers for reading
- Helping you set up your home so you can move around more easily
- Employment and job training
- Assistive devices, like lighting and reading stands
Your provider may suggest other resources, such as transportation and household services, to help you cope with your vision loss.
How can I make the most of my remaining sight?The sooner vision loss or eye disease is found and treated, the greater your chances of keeping your remaining vision. Whatever the cause, lost vision cannot be restored. But it can be managed. A loss of vision means you may have to reorganize your life and learn new ways of doing things. Your provider may make suggestions to help make life easier. These may include:
If you have some vision:
- Visual aids such as magnifiers
- Telescopic glasses or monoculars for seeing distance
- Large print books
- Clocks with larger numbers
- Brighter lights
- Anti-glare sunglasses or glare shields
If you have no vision (blindness):
- Devices like text-reading software and braille books
You can help take care of your vision by:
- Having regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye care professional
- Wearing sunglasses and protective eyewear to protect your eyes
- Making lifestyle changes to lower your risk of health conditions that can cause vision problems:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Staying at a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking (or not starting)
- Eating a healthy diet
NIH: National Eye Institute
Vision FDA Approved Drugs
Felter's Materia Medica on Vision
The dried tuberous root of Aconitum Napellus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). Mountains of Europe and Asia, and northwestern North America. Dose (maximum), 1 grain. Common Names: Aconite,... / ...emities to the body. Excessive sweating comes on, rapidly lowering the body temperature, dimness of vision, 1
The bark and fruit of Aesculus glabra, Willdenow (Nat. Ord. Sapindaceae). A small fetid tree common to the central portion of the United... / ...e cerebrum is also impressed by it. Toxic symptoms include dizziness, fixation of the eye, impaired vision, vomiting, wry-neck, opisthotonos, stupor, and tympanites. In lethal doses these symptoms are... / ...Aesculus deserves further study to determine its status as a remedy for nervous disorders, and especially its control over visceral neuralgias. 1
...motional state of happiness even to ecstacy is experienced, with an endless procession of beautiful visions coming and going, and over which the patient indulges in merriment and even hilarity. So ple......life-time in a minute. Endless phantasms of beauty and delight pass before his distorted mental vision. A singular peculiarity is a state of double consciousness or dual personality which poss...1
The rhizome, roots and seeds of Symplocarpus foetidus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Araceae). A peculiar plant found in moist grounds in the United States.... / ...erapy.In large doses dracontium will cause nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, and impaired vision. In small doses it is a stimulant, expectorant, and antispasmodic. It very markedly relieves ... / ...and is still a constituent of Acetous Emetic Tincture, Compound Emetic Powder, and Libradol, the magma representing the latter compound.1
The plant Euphrasia officinalis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Scrophulariaceae). Europe and America. Dose, 1 to 30 grains. Common Name: Eyebright. Principal... / ...nd for superficial, not deep, eye disorders. Accumulation upon the cornea of sticky mucus befogging vision is a euphrasia indication. With such ocular disorders is usually more or less coryza, which m... / ...in hay fever, having the characteristic discharges above mentioned.1
The dried rhizome and roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (Linné,) Aiton (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae). Dose, 1/10 to 1 grain. Common Names: Yellow... / ...ach or bowels. Toxicology.Toxic doses produce extreme muscular relaxation and prostration, double vision (sometimes blindness), widely dilated and immovable pupils, internal squint, and the eyelids ... / ...great restlessness and excitation are the classic indications for it as first formulated by Scudder, and these stand among the truest of speci1
The rhizome and rootlets of Cimicifuga racemosa (Linné), Nuttall (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). A conspicuously handsome perennial widely found in... / ...ably other parts of the nervous system not yet definitely determinedoccasioning vertigo, impaired vision, pupillary dilatation, nausea, and vomiting of a mild character, and a reduction in the rate ...1
The dried, ripe seed of Physostigma venenosum, Balfour (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae). A climbing perennial, native of Calabar, in the Gulf of Guinea, on... / ... to a lesser degree for several days. It temporarily increases the power of accommodation for close vision, which action may be followed by spasm of accommodation. These effects often cause severe pai... / ...drug has not therefore had a fair trial. It is one of the suggested antidotes for strychnine poisoning, the alkaloid being preferred. For all of1
The recently dried root and fruit of Phytolacca americana, Linné (Nat. Ord. Phytolaccaceae). North America, along roadsides and fences, and in... / ...on takes place, and frequently a tingling or prickling sensation over the whole surface. Dimness of vision, diplopia, vertigo, and drowsiness are occasioned by large doses not sufficient to produce de...1
The root of Piper methysticum, Forster (Nat. Ord. Piperaceae). South Sea Islands. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Names: Kava-Kava, Ava, Ava-Pepper... / ...ttended with confused dreams. Its long-continued use by them has caused more or less obscuration of vision and a dry, cracked, scaly and ulcerated skin, and lesions closely allied to leprosy. Therapy.... / ...or testicular diseases, or pectoral neuralgia arising reflexly from nervous dyspepsia are cases for the exhibition of Piper methysticum.1
The rhizome and roots of Sanguinaria canadensis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae), gathered in autumn after the leaves and scape have died to the... / ...ncreased action. If the dose be large, it provokes nausea, with violent emesis, vertigo, disordered vision, and great prostration. It also increases the broncho-pulmonary, cutaneous, and menstrual sec... / ...in debilitated subjects. When due to vicarious menstruation, hemorrhage from the lungs is said to have been controlled by it. It may be used als1
The tops of Cytisus Scoparius (Linné), Link (Nat. Ord. Leguminoseae). Europe and the United States. Cultivated. Dose, 5 to 15 grains. Common... / ...es). Dose, 1 to 2 fluidounces. Action and Therapy.Excessive doses of broom have produced impaired vision, staggering gait, and profuse vomiting and purging. The effects of broom are in milder degree... / ...scoparin has not been fully determined, but is believed to be both diuretic and purgative. Some believe it to be the real diuretic in scoparius.1
The dried rhizome and roots of Spigelia marilandica, Linné (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae). Southern United States; less plentiful in northern parts of... / ...pigelia is toxic, causing increased cardiac action, cerebral disturbances, as dizziness, dimness of vision, dilated pupils, facial and palpebral spasms, general convulsions and stupor. Purgation often... / ...Medicine Spigelia, 10-15 drops; Water, 4 fluidounces. Mix. Sig.: One teaspoonful every two hours. Large doses are said to debilitate the heart.1
The dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus Kombé, Oliver, or of Strophanthus hispidus, DeCandolle, deprived of their long awns (Nat. Ord. Apocynaceae).... / ...iva has been produced by this use of strophanthin; it has no effect on intraocular pressure or upon vision - accommodation. Strophanthus is a muscle poison. When taken internally it acts primarily upo... / ...It has been reported useful in cases of mitral regurgitation with dilatation; mitral stenosis with regurgitation; regurgitation wi1