What should a person do if he or she knows someone with low vision?
Urge that person to make an appointment with an eye care professional for an eye examination. Then help the person find out about low vision and vision rehabilitation services and encourage him or her to take advantage of all available resources. How does a low vision exam differ from a regular eye exam? A regular eye exam concentrates on diagnosing eye disease. A low vision examination focuses on designing specialized glasses and low vision devices to enhance remaining vision. A low vision exam, sometimes called a functional vision assessment, evaluates vision functioning and the effect it has on daily living activities, such as reading the newspaper or cooking. After an interview helps to determine the person’s visual goals, a low vision specialist performs a detailed visual analysis. Distance vision is evaluated using telescopic aids. High-powered microscopic spectacle lenses, telemicroscopic aids and hand or stand magnifiers may be used to evaluate near vision skills, like reading.
