Low Vision in Washington State

If you have trouble seeing, you are not alone. In Washington State alone, nearly 150,000 people struggle with blindness or low vision.* Causes of impaired vision range from birth defects to disease to eye injury. Many people find themselves with failing vision because of cataract, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes or glaucoma. The American Foundation for the Blind has estimated that about 13% of U.S. adults report they are either blind or have difficulty seeing even with corrective lenses.Low vision significantly impacts individuals and society. Studies have shown that people with low vision report more depression, falls, and cognitive decline than people with better vision. Low vision individuals may feel a lowered quality of life if they are unable to drive, read, see their loved ones or even cook for themselves safely. And, unfortunately, as the U.S. population ages and more people suffer from diabetes, the incidence of low vision will likely continue to go up. Today, vision loss shows up among the top ten causes of disability in the U.S.  In 2012 4.2 million Americans aged 40 and older suffered from low vision or blindness. The CDC predicts that in the next 30 years our aging population and increasing epidemic of diabetes will boost that number to nearly 9 million people.The Corbin Low Vision Resource Center aims to freely serve all western Washington residents looking for devices that can help them live better.
*(https://www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/statistics/state-specific-stats/washington#2019) 

  If your vision cannot be corrected well enough – with glasses, contact lenses or medical procedures - for you to read a newspaper normally, your doctor may have said you have “low vision.”  

There are several common patterns of vision and vision loss, including:

Central Vision Loss
Central vision is the portion of our vision used for reading and fine detail. When you look directly at a person’s face, you are using your central vision to see their face. The part of the eye used in central vision is called the macula. Macular degeneration seen in conditions like Age Related Macular Degeneration and Macular Edema, or swelling from Diabetes, are common causes of central vision loss.

Peripheral Vision Loss
Peripheral vision is everything outside of the central vision. You use peripheral vision when driving to see cars or pedestrians to your sides. When you see something moving at your side, you are using your peripheral vision. You then turn to look at it and use your fine central vision to see it in more detail. Glaucoma, retinal detachments, and strokes might cause peripheral vision loss.

Generalized Vision Loss
Generalized vision loss can involve both the central and peripheral vision. People with this type of vision loss have difficulty in situations that require fine detail, reading and driving. Generalized vision loss can have  many different causes. 

It can be uncomfortable interacting with someone who is severely visually impaired - just because we don't know what we should do.  But perhaps these tips for interacting with someone who has limited vision can help:

1. Be respectful and then relax
2. Identify yourself when coming into a room - mention your name when talking in a group.
3. Don't sneak away - let people know when you are leaving the room.
4. Be yourself. It’s okay to use phrases like ‘it is nice to see you’.
5. Use your normal tone of voice - speaking louder doesn't help a visually impaired person see better.
6. Ask if your assistance is needed–before assisting!
7. Hand gestures may be hard for the person with failing vision to follow - it is better to use words.
8. This is a hard one - Avoid terms like “over there” and try to explain with phrases like "on your right" or "at 12 on the clock".
9. Avoid actions that may distract guide dogs. Do not pet or talk to a working dog without owner permission.
10. Respect personal boundaries, don’t touch people without asking.
11. Speak directly to the person with low vision - not just to their care partner.