Common Causes of Low Vision: From Macular Degeneration to Glaucoma

Low vision is not just needing stronger glasses. It is a permanent loss of vision that cannot be fully corrected with lenses, medication, or surgery. This makes tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces more difficult.

Anyone can experience low vision, but it is most common in older adults. Different eye diseases can cause low vision, each affecting your sight differently. Below are the most common causes.
 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

This condition affects the macula, the small central area of your retina that processes sharp, straight-ahead vision. That is why reading, recognizing faces, and seeing fine details are so difficult. You might also notice straight lines looking wavy or bent.

It mostly affects older adults and has two forms. The dry kind develops slowly over time. The wet kind can cause sudden, noticeable vision changes. Worldwide, it is one of the top causes of vision loss.
 

Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain. It is often associated with fluid buildup and increased intraocular pressure. Usually, side vision is lost first, and you might not notice.

Over time, this condition can lead to tunnel vision and, eventually, central vision loss. Once vision is gone, it cannot be brought back. That is why regular eye exams are so important; glaucoma gives no early warning signs.
 

Diabetic Retinopathy

Do you have diabetes? If so, high blood sugar can slowly damage the tiny blood vessels in your retina. These vessels might leak fluid or blood, which can blur your vision. In later stages, new abnormal vessels can form and lead to even more severe vision loss. The best ways to protect your vision are to control your blood sugar and get an eye exam every year.
 

Cataracts

A cataract makes someone feel as if they are living life looking through a foggy window. The lens becomes cloudy, blocking clear vision, so your vision may look blurry, dim, or yellowish. Cataracts usually develop slowly and are common as people age.

The good news is that surgery is safe and works well for most people. But in many places, not everyone can access this treatment, so cataracts remain a major cause of low vision.
 

Refractive Errors

These errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These conditions result from the eye failing to focus light directly on the retina. Glasses, contact lenses, or surgery can usually fix these issues.

But millions of people around the world do not have access to basic eye exams or glasses. As a result, uncorrected refractive errors are a major cause of vision problems worldwide.
 

Retinitis Pigmentosa

This is a group of rare genetic conditions in which the light-sensing cells in your retina gradually stop working. Night vision is usually lost first. Over time, people develop tunnel vision and lose more sight. It can begin at any time and progress differently for each person.
 

Other Causes

Eye injuries can harm the retina, optic nerve, or other key structures. Strokes that affect the parts of your brain responsible for vision can also be a culprit. For children, causes are different, such as congenital cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity, or cortical visual impairment from brain damage. And optic atrophy, where the optic nerve slowly wastes away, is another cause to know.

If you want to learn more about the common causes of low vision, visit EyeScript Vision Care. Our office is in Spring, Texas. Call (346) 460-4900 to schedule an appointment.

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/low-vision-cause

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment