February is National AMD and Low Vision Awareness Month
“Good to know!” you say, “But what is AMD and Low Vision?” We’re glad you asked!
According to the National Eye Institute, Low Vision is a term commonly used among eye care professionals to indicate partial sight, or sight that cannot be fully corrected with surgery, medications, contact lenses, or glasses. Low vision is not a natural part of getting older, and it can happen to people of any age. One reason it occurs most often in older adults is that they are most likely to contract the diseases that cause low vision, including macular degeneration. Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for “straight-ahead” activities such as reading, sewing, and driving.
Is AMD an issue for you or someone you love? There’s help!
Services such as training in the use of magnification devices, electronic devices, computer-assistance devices, are available through Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired. These services help people maximize their remaining vision or learn alternate ways to do activities around their community and home.
To learn more about AMD and other Low Vision causes, check out these resources:
National Eye Institute:
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/lowvision/index.asp
Prevent Blindness:
http://www.preventblindness.org/amd/
American Optometric Association:
http://www.aoa.org/Macular-Degeneration.xml
