Vision loss symptoms are mostly found in those older than 65, but many younger people also suffer from various forms of visual impairment. If you have been diagnosed with an eye disease or your vision isn’t as good as it used to be, Braille Institute can help bring your life back into focus. Explore the common types of vision loss below.
Common Vision Loss Conditions
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and is affecting a growing number of Americans. It is caused by the breakage of tiny blood vessels in the retina, resulting in hemorrhages on or in the retina, typically by prolonged and repeated exposure to high blood sugar levels. Untreated diabetes or poor disease maintenance dramatically increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Depending on the severity of the disease, sight can remain near normal or be lost entirely. The remaining vision may be blurred or distorted, or the hemorrhaging may cause a deep reddish veil to form over the field of vision. Laser surgery can often be effective in regaining some vision, but the patient must continue to manage their diabetes through medication, diet, exercise, and frequent monitoring of blood sugar.
Macular Degeneration
Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary condition leading to chronic retinal degeneration. The eye disease causes a progressive decrease in peripheral or side vision and is accompanied by abnormal pigment deposits. Eventually, a person can only see directly forward, a condition known as “tunnel vision.”
This affects night vision as well as the ability to walk safely. Retinitis pigmentosa will rarely cause a total loss of vision.
Glaucoma
There are various types of glaucoma, though all are due to damage to the optic nerve. Generally, this is caused by high fluid pressure inside the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated, vision around the edge of the eye becomes increasingly restricted, narrowing the field of vision causing “tunnel vision” similar to that of retinitis pigmentosa.
However, unlike with RP, total blindness can occur in those experiencing glaucoma as a result of damage to the optic nerve. If detected early enough, the damaging effects of the disease often can be treated with various drugs. Laser or conventional surgery can also relieve pressure and prevent further sight loss.
Cataracts
Homonymous Hemianopsia
Homonymous hemianopia (HH) is a neurological disorder that results in the absence of vision toward one side of each eye. This condition often occurs as a result of a brain injury such as a stroke. The extent of field vision that is lost can vary and depends on the area of your brain that has been affected.
In some patients, “prisms” or “mirrors” are used on glasses to compensate for the lost field of vision.
First Step Forward
Common Vision Loss Questions
Diabetic Retinopathy
What are the vision loss symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy may show no symptoms. An annual eye exam is critical for early diagnosis if you have diabetes and have chronically high blood sugar levels. As the disease progresses, the broken blood vessels cause swelling in the retinal tissue, and the patient can experience cloudy or blurry vision. Further complications can include floating spots and dark patches, leading to total blindness if untreated. These symptoms typically affect both eyes. If you are experiencing:- cloudy or blurry vision
- dark patches
- difficulty seeing at night
- floating spots or “floaters.”
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
Retinopathy is caused by damage to the retina, resulting in vision impairment. The retina is the light-sensitive inner layer of the eye. It is rich in blood vessels and is important in the projection and relay of visual signals. Damage to the retina typically results from leaking blood vessels or, in severe cases, detachment of the retinal lining from the back of the eye. Diabetes is characterized by a decrease in the body’s natural ability to regulate and maintain stable sugar (glucose) levels in the bloodstream. If you have diabetes, you are susceptible to retina damage. Diabetic retinopathy affects both type I and type II diabetics. Chronically high blood sugar causes an accumulation of fluid in the retina that bursts its tiny blood vessels. Your body may form new, irregular blood vessels to restore circulation to the damaged area.What are the treatment options for diabetic retinopathy?
The first step in treating diabetic retinopathy is carefully managing your diet to keep blood sugar at normal. In later stages, laser treatment may be effective in regaining some vision. Injections of specialized medicines can also address abnormal growth of blood vessels. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause total blindness.Macular Degeneration
What are the vision loss symptoms of macular degeneration?
The first sign of macular degeneration is reduced sharpness in the center of your vision. Blurred or blank spots in your “straight ahead” vision may increase in size and severity over time. Side or peripheral vision is not typically affected. While macular degeneration does not lead to total blindness, losing central vision can greatly interfere with activities that require sight — including reading, driving, and even recognizing faces — and diminish quality of life. If you are experiencing cloudy, blurry, or dark areas in your central vision, call your eye doctor, first, then call 1-800-BRAILLE for a free consultation with your doctor’s referral..What causes macular degeneration?
The macula is filled with millions of light-sensing cells, providing sharp, central vision. The central vision becomes cloudy or dark when the area is damaged or deteriorating. With “dry” macular degeneration — the most prominent type — small yellow deposits, known as drusen, form under the macula, causing it to dry out, become thinner and lose function. In the rarer form of “wet” macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula and may bleed and leak fluid, distorting central vision as the area bulges. Macular degeneration’s underlying causes are not well understood. Genetics and environment plays a role, but aging is the leading risk factor. You are at higher risk of macular degeneration if:- Someone in your family developed macular degeneration
- You are of Caucasian descent; African-Americans and Latinos are at lower risk
- You smoke, which doubles your risk
What are the treatment options for macular degeneration?
While advances are happening, there is currently no cure for macular degeneration, and this type of vision loss is not correctable with glasses or surgery. Suppose you’ve been diagnosed with macular degeneration or are at high risk. In that case, you may be able to slow the progression of the disease through lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, exercising regularly, protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light when outdoors, and not smoking.Retinitis Pigmentosa
What are the vision loss symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa?
Rods, which are involved in the perception of low light, are typically the first cells affected by the disease, so night vision is affected first, along with peripheral vision, which may become increasingly splotchy. Deterioration of the cones, involved in brighter light and color perception leads to loss of image sharpness and the development of tunnel vision. The age when symptoms appear and the rate of vision loss varies from person to person.What causes retinitis pigmentosa?
Researchers have identified more than 60 genes involved in the development of retinitis pigmentosa. Mutations in these genes disrupt the retina’s ability to produce a protein essential for developing rods and cones, the photosensitive (light-sensing) cells in the retina. Because retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disorder, it is passed from parent to child, with inheritance risk depending on whether one or both parents have the disease or are carriers of the mutated genes. Genetic testing is available to assess risk, but no cure has yet been developed.What are the treatment options for retinitis pigmentosa?
Although no cure has yet been found for retinitis pigmentosa, corrective lenses, and night vision devices can improve your sight and increase your quality of life.Glaucoma
What are the vision loss symptoms of glaucoma?
Glaucoma causes loss of peripheral vision, first noticeable in dark patches around the edges of the eyes. Later stages of the disease can cause tunnel vision and, if not treated, blindness.What causes glaucoma?
The optic nerve, located at the back of the eye, carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma causes a buildup of excess fluid in the eye, increasing pressure on the optic nerve leading to permanent damage of nerve fibers. You are at higher risk for glaucoma if:- Someone in your family developed glaucoma
- You are African-American and over age 40
- You are Latino and over age 60
- You have diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or extreme nearsightedness
What are the treatment options for glaucoma?
Annual eye exams are the best way to ensure glaucoma is diagnosed and treated as early as possible to help preserve irreversible vision loss. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your doctor will help you decide the best course of treatment, which may include medicated eye drops, oral medications, or laser or traditional surgery. The optimal treatment depends on your specific type of glaucoma:- acute (angle closure) glaucoma
- chronic (open-angle) glaucoma — the most
- common type
- normal tension glaucoma
- secondary glaucoma
Cataracts
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Blurred or cloudy vision is the most common symptom of cataracts. Impaired night vision, sensitivity to bright lights, faded colors, and double vision may also occur.What causes cataracts?
The lens is a transparent layer of the eye behind the pupil that focuses light and images onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens is made up of water and proteins. As we age, the proteins can deteriorate and clump together, causing cloudiness that reduces the amount of light able to pass through to the retina. This leads to blurred vision, initially in a small area but growing over time if left untreated. Aging is the leading risk factor for cataracts. You may be at higher risk if:- Someone in your family developed cataracts
- You have diabetes or hypertension or are obese
- You smoke
- Your eyes have been extensively exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun
What are the treatment options of cataracts?
Lens-replacement surgery is an effective and commonly used treatment for cataracts. For those with early-stage cataracts, glasses or contact lenses may provide sufficient vision improvement, brighter lighting at home, and a larger print for reading. Treatment may depend on your specific type of cataracts:- Secondary cataracts form after surgery for other eye problems or health issues.
- Traumatic cataracts may develop after an eye injury.
- Congenital cataracts occur at birth or develop in childhood.
- Radiation cataracts can develop after exposure to certain types of radiation.
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