Low Vision Eye Care with our Optometrist In Sacramento

Learn More: Low Vision Treatment

The ability to see clearly is something many people take for granted, and when things start to get blurry, many head to their Sacramento optometrists to get to the bottom of the problem and have their vision corrected as much as possible. For most, this means an update in their glasses or contact lens prescription, but for some the problem may be more complex, and they may find themselves in need of a low vision eye doctor instead.

At Arena Eye Care, Inc in Sacramento, CA we strongly encourage people, especially those over 40, to get regular comprehensive eye exams, whether they are experiencing noticeable vision problems or not. Various eye diseases are the most common contributors to low vision problems, and like many health problems successful treatment is often linked to early detection. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the challenge to correct the problem may be too great.

What Brings People to a Low Vision Eye Doctor?

Low vision is defined as a loss in vision that is not correctable by eyeglasses, contacts, pharmaceuticals or surgery. Those with low vision not only have blurry vision, but can also experience blind spots, or a loss of their peripheral vision. Legal blindness, vision that cannot be corrected beyond 20/200, is also an example of low vision.

What Causes Low Vision?

There are various eye diseases that are the primary contributors to low vision problems. These include:

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - This one disorder causes almost half of low vision cases, and the National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates that two million people over 50 in the U.S. have the condition. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there may be as many as seven million others that are at risk of developing AMD. AMD is characterized by blurred central vision.

Glaucoma - Approximately 3 million Americans have glaucoma. Glaucoma affects vision in the opposite way, usually blurring peripheral vision first, and attacking a greater area as time passes.

Diabetic Retinopathy -The NEI estimates that approximately a third of Americans who have diabetes also have retinopathy, which would include more than seven million people. With diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels become damaged, which results in retinal detachment and patches of blocked out vision.

Cataracts - Cataracts are a cloudy layer on the lens of the eye which blurs over the entire range of vision. It affects over 20 million Americans, and has been linked to poor nutrition as well as aging

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a group of inherited diseases that begin in childhood affecting the retina that gradually blacks out peripheral vision.

How Our Sacramento Optometrists can Help With Low Vision

One of the biggest ways we help our patients at Arena Eye Care, Inc is through prevention and early diagnosis, but we can only do this if patients take the initiative to see Dr. Holmberg or Dr. Patel for eye exams on a regular basis. As part of our comprehensive eye exam, we test for signs of common eye diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts, and can check for signs of retinopathy as well.

If you are already experiencing reduced vision, Dr. Patel can help you explore different ways of getting around your specific problem. Depending on the persons condition, overall health and living requirements, a specific plan and training to use tools such as specially made lit magnifiers, electronic magnifiers and other visual aids can increase ones confidence and independence. Dr. Patel can also help you to pull together a support network of people and resources you can rely on. 

To help prevent yourself from experiencing low vision issues, to slow the progression of existing problems, and to help you deal with your visual needs, please contact us today to schedule an eye exam.

Learn More: Low Vision Treatment