Blindness and vision loss – causes and management

Having a problem with your eyesight that can’t be corrected can have a big effect on your life. Learn how to manage vision loss.

What are the symptoms?

When to get urgent help

What causes it and who’s affected?

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

What are the treatments?

Can you prevent it?

Where to get support

Having a problem with your eyesight that can’t be corrected can have a big effect on your life. The symptoms can vary – from blurry vision to losing most or all of your sight. How it’s managed will depend on the cause and how bad your vision loss is – but there is help available.

If you have a visual impairment – also called vision loss, low vision, partial sightedness, or blindness, it means there’s a problem with your eyesight (vision) that can’t be corrected to a normal level with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.

Vision impairment problems affect more than 2.2 billion people worldwide.

There are several types of visual impairment, with varying levels of sight loss, including:

- hazy or blurry vision 
- central vision loss – when you can’t see things straight ahead
- peripheral vision loss – when you can’t see things on either side
- night blindness – when you can’t see things in low light
- legal blindness – when you’ve lost most or all of your vision.

Being diagnosed with a visual impairment can be upsetting. But there is treatment and support available. Read on to learn more.

## What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of visual impairment can come on gradually or suddenly. They vary depending on the cause, but can include:

- trouble seeing straight in front of you (central vision), or out of the corners of your eyes (peripheral vision)
- things looking blurred, hazy, or cloudy
- seeing floating spots or lines, or flashes of light
- difficulty judging distances between objects
- trouble seeing things in low light
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- difficulty with daily activities such as reading, driving, or watching TV
- trouble seeing colors
- double vision
- eye pain
- discharge from your eye.


Get help with this

## When to get urgent help

Go to an urgent treatment center if:

- your vision gets worse suddenly
- you’ve injured your eye
- you have sudden eye pain or a severe headache 
- your eye is red and painful
- you see a dark shadow or ‘curtain’ moving across your vision.

## What causes it and who’s affected?

Anyone of any age can get blindness or vision loss, but it’s most common if you’re over 50.

It also affects more women than men. This is thought to be due to various things such as longer life expectancy and biological differences. 

Health conditions, infections, and injuries can cause or contribute to vision impairment, including:

- [cataracts](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/cataracts) – when the lenses in your eyes become cloudy
- refractive errors – when your eyes can’t focus properly
- [glaucoma](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/glaucoma) – when the nerve that connects your eye and brain (optic nerve) gets damaged
- [macular degeneration](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/macular-degeneration) – which leads to the gradual loss of central vision
- [diabetic retinopathy](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy) – when high blood sugar levels damage the lining at the back of your eye (retina)
- [retinal detachment](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/retinal-detachment) – when the retina (the thin layer at the back of your eye) becomes lose
- retinitis pigmentosa – a group of genetic diseases that affect your retina
- [trachoma](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/trachoma) – a bacterial eye infection
- [uveitis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/uveitis) – inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea)
- certain genetic conditions
- some other health conditions – including [stroke](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/stroke), [shingles](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/shingles), and cancer
- injury or trauma to your eye
- brain injury
- nutritional deficiencies – a poor diet where you have a lack of vitamins, such as vitamin A, can affect vision.

## When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

Go back to the section __[When to get urgent help](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/visual-impairment#getting-urgent-help)__ to see which symptoms need immediate medical care.

Otherwise speak to your doctor or eye specialist if notice any changes in your vision.

They’ll ask about your symptoms and how they’re affecting your life, as well as your medical history and lifestyle, and whether anyone in your family has any vision-related conditions.

They’ll do an eye exam and tests to check your vision and look more closely at what’s happening in your eyes. 

This can include:

- getting you to look at a board and read letters of decreasing size
- checking how well you can see in different parts of your ‘vision field’ – such as to the sides and above
- looking at how well your eyes move, and the health of the muscles that control movements
- using a device with a light and magnifying lens (slit lamp) to get a better look at different parts of your eye – including the cornea, retina, conjunctiva, and optic nerve
- checking how well your pupils react to light (pupillary reflexes)
- blowing puffs of air on the surface of your eyes to check your eye pressure.

## What are the treatments?

Treatment and management for visual impairment depends on the [cause](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/visual-impairment#causes-and-risk-factors) and severity of your vision loss.

Some causes can sometimes be treated to improve your vision, including:

- cataracts or a damaged retina or cornea – surgery
- macular degeneration – eye injections or light-based therapy
- infections or underlying health conditions – medication
- nutritional deficiencies – vitamin supplements and diet changes.

If your vision can’t be improved, treatment focuses on taking steps to look after your remaining vision, and help you manage with low vision. This can include:

- wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses
- reading books and other material with a larger print
- using an optical magnifier or telescope
- using a phone with large buttons
- listening to audiobooks and audio description, and using other audio technologies
- using voice-recognition technology to type
- using a screen reader
- installing bright lighting – this can include bright light bulbs and adjustable lights in places such as the stairs and kitchen, where you may be more likely to have an accident.  

You may also be offered ‘low vision rehabilitation’. This involves working with a specialist who can share advice and teach techniques to make everyday tasks easier.

If you have anxiety or depression due to vision impairment, you may want to speak to a therapist or counselor.

## Can you prevent it?

It’s not always possible to prevent visual impairment. But you can look after your eyes by:

- having regular eye exams
- protecting your eyes by wearing sunglasses when you’re out in the sun
- wearing glasses or contact lenses if advised by your eye specialist
- cleaning your hands before putting in your contact lenses and not sharing eye make-up – to help avoid infection
- wearing protective eyewear when necessary – such as if working with chemicals or on a building site
- taking regular breaks if you have to look at a screen for long periods 
- making sure spaces where you’re working or reading are well lit
- eating a healthy diet – including plenty of fruit and vegetables
- maintaining a healthy weight
- not smoking 
- managing health conditions that can affect your vision – such as [diabetes](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/diabetes) and [high blood pressure](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/blood-pressure-high)
- being aware of eye conditions that run in your family, and other risk factors.

## Where to get support

If you’ve been diagnosed with low vision, you may feel upset, angry, or confused about what to do next. Support organizations include:

- RNIB (UK): [www.rnib.org.uk](https://www.rnib.org.uk) – for people with vision loss
- Macular Society (UK): [www.macularsociety.org](https://www.macularsociety.org) 
- AFB (US): [www.afb.org](https://www.afb.org) – working to expand possibilities for people with vision loss
- American Macular Degeneration Foundation (US): [www.macular.org](https://www.macular.org)


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References

Chantelle Pattemore

Susie Parker

Dr Emily Blount

Article information

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