February is Low Vision Awareness Month. About 3 million Americans over the age of 40 are impacted by low vision. This proportion is projected to increase to 5 million people by 2030.
Low vision is described as difficulty seeing even with the assistance of glasses, contact lenses, medications, and/or surgery. Causes for vision loss in adults over the age of 65 include age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, and glaucoma.
The first step to any treatment is to seek help. Ophthalmologists or optometrists who specialize in low vision can help curate a vision rehabilitation plan best suited to a patient’s needs.
Take this time as an opportunity to spread the word and raise awareness about vision rehabilitation and learn more about potential risk factors for low vision.