Frequently asked questions

Q

 I often stumble over door steps and have problems when walking on uneven ground. It is not a problem with my legs.  When I look at the doorstep, I have no problem seeing it. What could cause this?
A
 It might be a problem in your lower visual field.  When you look at the ground, you can see it clearly (in your central vision), but when you look straight ahead and the ground is in your peripheral vision, you do not notice it clearly.
Q
 Isn’t all vision the same?  What is the difference between central and peripheral vision?
A
 Central vision  serves recognition.  Peripheral vision serves spatial awareness.  Look at the anatomical and disease sections for more detail.
Q
 Corrective lenses are no longer adequate – they can’t bring my detail vision close to normal. What can I do?
A
 There are a wide variety of visual aids and magnification devices that can be utilized. See Helping yourself.
Q
 My visual acuity test results are ”normal” but I am having difficulty with activities of daily living such as reading, driving at night, or climbing stairs. What can I do?
A
 You can begin by testing other aspects of vision such as contrast sensitivity and surround vision with the MeyeSight app. If your results are out of the normal range you should get a professional eye exam.
Q
 Can I figure out what eye disease I have from my MeyeSight Visual Fitness Test results?
A
 Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity loss are non-specific; test results do not in themselves lead to a diagnosis. But because retinal disorders may cause deficits in contrast sensitivity that show up in testing, they can signal a need for a more comprehensive professional examination.
Q
 My doctor says I have peripheral vision loss on the right side but my central vision is unaffected. Yet I find reading more difficult than before? Am I imagining this?
A
 It can be more difficult to read a line of text, as your ability to quickly see the next word will be diminished. You might not be able to even read long words. With poor vision on the left side you might have difficulty finding the beginning of the next line.
Q
 I have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and I read on the internet that AMD is the most frequent cause of blindness. Is this true?
A
 AMD is a major cause of legal blindness, which refers to a government-designated degree of visual acuity loss (20/200 or worse). Because AMD affects only the macula but not the periphery, those with AMD do not go completely blind (but may qualify for “legal blindness” benefits).
Q
 I am finding it harder to see where I am going at night. Is there anything I can do to improve my mobility at night?
A
 A low vision specialist may provide you with useful aids and techniques to help you strategize ways to maximize night vision, including such things as adding lighting around your home, carrying a broad beam flashlight and using infrared night scopes.  Visual field awareness systems such as prisms and reverse telescopes may also be recommended.
Q
 I have glaucoma and my visual field tests don’t indicate any significant peripheral field loss, As well am not experiencing any of the dark “tunneling” that is said to happen with progressing glaucoma. I am having more trouble with my vision though, especially blurriness and haziness. Is this more likely to be something else, perhaps just aging?
A
 Symptoms that are not traditionally associated with glaucoma can indicate glaucoma progression, regardless of what visual field tests indicate. You may experience symptoms of diminished quality of vision such as:

  • Blurriness or haziness
  • Increased glare
  • Difficulty seeing at night or in the dark
  • Needing more light to read, cook, see the stairs, etc.
  • Difficulty with computer use
Q
 When I go to my ophthalmology appointment I am first given the letter chart test. Although I can identify the letters, they don’t look clear and sharp to me. Nevertheless because I can eventually identify the letters I am told “You have 20/20 vision.” But it’s clearly much harder for me to read the letters. Why am I being told my vision is “normal”?
A
 If you find that although you can identify the Snellen chart letters they aren’t sharp or clear, be sure to tell your doctor so that you can move on to other tests that can explain why the letters are not sharp.
Q
 Why have I gradually found it harder to read without glasses?
A
 The natural lens in the eye starts aging and this decreases the ability to focus on near objects steadily. This condition is called presbyopia and usually occurs near the age of 40.
Q
 When I read parts of words are sometimes missing. And sometimes when I go to pick something small up I can’t see it. What’s happening?
A
 If you have an eye condition such as macular degeneration you may have  blurry or blind spots in your central vision while your peripheral vision remains intact. With your central vision you see what you are looking at directly, while your peripheral vision lets you see out of the corner of your eyes. If you see something small out of the corner of your eye (with your good peripheral vision), turning your gaze toward the object may make it disappear behind a blurry area or blind spot.If the blind spot is small, you may see part of a word, or if you have several small blind spots words may pop in and out of your view.
Q
 My vision is getting cloudier and blurrier, and glare from headlights at night is making driving difficult. Is this an eye disease and is it fixable?
A
 These symptoms are found in many eye conditions, some of which are require immediate attention, others of which do not. You should get a complete eye exam to determine the cause.One common cause of blur and glare in people as the age is cataracts. As proteins build up on the eye’s lens, vision is clouded. Cataract surgery can remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear, artificial one.
Q
 After an eye exam I was told my eye pressure was high. Does this mean I have glaucoma?
A
 No. Higher than norman eye pressure means you are at risk for glaucoma, and you will want a dilated eye exam so a doctor can determine if your optic nerve is damaged. While high pressure in itself does not indicate glaucoma, it is an important risk factor and further examination is essential, as early glaucoma has no discernible symptoms.
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Q
 What causes high intraocular pressure?
A
 Most commonly, pressure builds inside of the eye when there is an imbalance in the production and drainage of the fluid in the front of the eye (aqueous humor). The channels that normally drain the fluid from inside the eye may become blocked. Or the normal production of fluid may become altered.
Q
 If I don’t have “high” eye pressure, does that mean I won’t develop glaucoma?
A
 No, you can develop glaucoma without having abnormally high pressures. High pressure is a risk factor, but it is only one of many.
Q
 The person who examined my eyes told me I may have glaucoma, but I have no symptoms whatsoever. Could they be wrong?
A
 In most instances there are no early warning signs or symptoms of open-angle glaucoma. While it is developing slowly, there is often no   noticeable sight loss for many years. Therefore it is important to see a doctor for regular eye examinations, especially if you have any of the risk factors for glaucoma such high eye pressure, family history of glaucoma, being African-American over age 40, being over age 60, or being diabetic.
Q
 I just turned 60. Should I be tested for macular degeneration?
A
 Macular degeneration is called “age-related macular degeneration” because age is the greatest risk factor for AMD. People over age 60 are at much greater risk than those younger.You can use the MeyeSight Visual Fitness Test to see if you have had recent changes in your central vision, a sign that a professional exam is in order. But at age 60 the National Eye Institute recommendation is to have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.You should be sure to be screened for AMD if you:

  • have a close relative with AMD related vision loss
  • are over age of 60
  • have hypertension or cardiovascular disease
  • smoke tobacco
  • have had cataract surgery
Q
 What’s the difference between needing eyeglasses and having low vision? If I need glasses to see the TV does that mean I have low vision?
A
 Low vision refers to less than normal vision that is not improved by regular glasses or contact lenses and is not correctible by medicine or surgery.
Q
 Can I get stronger glasses to correct my low vision?
A
 Glasses and contact lenses aid in focusing an image. If your retina is damaged from a disease such as macular degeneration adjusting the focus won’t make your vision clearer.  Glasses can improve your vision only if your only vision problem is that you are `nearsighted or farsighted or have astigmatism.
Q
 What’s the difference between visual impairment, low vision and legal blindness?
A
 When neither of your eyes can see better than 20/60 without the aid of glasses or contact lenses, you may be defined as visually impaired. Visual impairment may also refer to limited side vision, poor night vision, double vision or loss of vision in one eye.If the visual acuity in your best eye with glasses is 20/200 or worse or if you have severe visual field loss (20 degrees or less in your better eye) you are considered legally blind. The term does not indicate what you can or can not do or how active you can be. For example, many legally blind people can read and write with the aid of  special devices and training. If you are legally blind, you may qualify for government benefits.Vision below normal (20/70 or worse) that cannot be corrected with conventional glasses is referred to as low vision. Low vision is not the same as blindness. If you have low vision you can use your sight, but your low vision may interfere with activities such as reading or driving. (See >>>)
Q
 Is losing vision just a part of getting older?
A
 No. Some normal changes in our eyes and vision occur as we get older. However, these changes usually don’t lead to low vision.Low Vision impairment is usually the result of a diseases or eye condition. About 70% of the people currently seeking vision rehabilitation in the U.S. have macular degeneration, but low vision can result from diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, hereditary retinal degenerations, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt’s disease and albinism, as well as other conditions such as stroke or brain tumors.