What are the causes of ‘Low Vision’?

Although most often experienced by the elderly, people of any age may suffer from low vision. Low vision can result from birth defects, inherited diseases, injuries, diabetes, glaucoma, high myopia and aging.

The commonest cause is Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), a degenerative disease of the retina, the innermost layer of the eye that perceives light and enables us to see. Macular degeneration affects the central vision. Even when advanced, it does not lead to total blindness because the peripheral vision is still preserved, even though the central vision may be totally lost.

Although reduced central vision is the commonest cause of low vision, extensive loss of peripheral vision as in advanced glaucoma, can also produce low vision due to extremely narrow field of vision. Birth defects or inherited disease producing loss of color vision or increased glare sensitivity (diminished ability of the eye to adjust to light, contrast or glare) can also cause low vision.