Impacts of Vision Loss
TYPICAL VISION
People with typical vision have visual acuities and other corrective conditions that enable them to be able to see effectively with or without corrective lenses. Common disorders that can usually be corrected with spectacles include myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism.
People with 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses are considered to have typical vision. This means that signs or objects 20 feet away appear 20 feet away. A person with decreased visual acuity with or without correction might look at an object that is 20 feet away, but it appears to be 70 feet away. This person might have a visual acuity of 20/70.
CENTRAL VISION LOSS
People who experience central vision loss may experience it as a result of degeneration of the central pit of the retina. Central vision loss can impact reading print or identifying signage outside such as street names and content in the middle of a sign. Central vision loss may be associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy, or other conditions or disorders.
LIMITED VISUAL FIELD
People who experience decreased visual field as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa, glaucoma a stroke, other conditions, or disorders may have difficulty identifying objects or people on their sides. Someone with a visual field loss may not see the full content of a sign, bicyclists, or pedestrians on either side or vehicular traffic that is off to the side.
BLURRED VISION
People who experience cloudy, hazy, dim vision or pain may lack visual crispness in their ability to see details. Individuals with conditions or disorders such as cataracts, uveitis, or glaucoma may experience blurred or hazy vision. Hazy vision may impact the ability to see details, identify colors, or recognize differences in depth of perception like a change from a sidewalk to a road.
