The idea of losing your vision can be scary.
After all, you rely on your vision every day.
Among those, 43 million are blind, and 295 million have moderate to severe visual impairment.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Some vision loss happens suddenly.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Cataracts
Acataractis a clouding in the lens of your eye.
Eye surgeons can remove cataracts.Cataract surgeryis one of the most common surgeries performed in the U.S.
This means that cataracts can literally cloud your vision, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.
You use your sharp central vision to see objects clearly and for everyday tasks like reading and driving.
The macula is part of the retina.
Health experts predict that number will grow with the aging of the population.
There are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry.Wet AMDis considered a more advanced disease thandry AMD.
An advanced form of dry macular degeneration is called geographic atrophy.
A person can have dry macular degeneration that turns into wet macular degeneration.
Both types of AMD can affect one eye or both eyes.
Both wet and dry AMD can slowly or rapidly develop.
Makes up 85% to 90% of advanced vision loss in AMD cases.
triggered by blood vessels that grow behind the macula in the back of the eye.
A common cause of legal blindness in the U.S. Makes up 10 to 15% of advanced vision loss in AMD cases.
resulting from drusen, a waste product from metabolism, that builds up under the retina.
Does not cause blindness, but it can drastically affect central vision.
Dry macular degeneration:
Wet macular degeneration:
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathycan develop when you have diabetes.
It happens when high levels of blood sugar damage blood vessels in the back of the eye.
The blood vessels may leak, become bigger, grow new blood vessels, or close completely.
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy.
Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the earlier stage, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the more advanced stage.
However, both can have serious effects on vision.
There are approximately 9.6 million people in the U.S. living with diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy may not always have signs.
That is why regular eye checks are important, especiallywhen you have diabetes.
Sometimes, the disease itself leads to changes that affect vision.
The vision loss associated with certain diseases can take place slowly over time.
Sometimes, there are no other symptoms until the vision loss is more advanced.
That damage can cause vision loss or blindness.
There are several types of glaucoma.
The most common jot down in the U.S. is open-angle glaucoma, or OAG.
There are more than 3 million people in the U.S. living with OAG.
Glaucoma becomes more common with age, particularly over age 60.
It also is more common in Blacks, Hispanics, or those with a family history of glaucoma.
Initially, glaucoma may not have any symptoms.
This is why regular eye exams are important, especially as you get older.
However, the most common symptom of OAG is the loss of your side, orperipheral, vision.
Central Vision Loss vs. Macular degeneration affects your central vision.
As the name implies, this is the area in the center of the eye.
Peripheral vision is your side vision.
If you look straight ahead, peripheral vision is the vision on either side of you.
You also may hear this referred to as having “tunnel vision.”
It can be dangerous to lose your peripheral vision.
Sometimes, however, it could mean there is an eye disorder that requires treatment.
An eye doctor such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform various tests to examine your vision loss.
These could include:
Other tests performed will be specific for the potential cause of vision loss.
A Word From Verywell
Although vision loss is worrisome, there are ways to help prevent it.
The best way to help lower your chances of vision loss is to schedule regular eye exams.
Ask your eye doctor how often you should be examined.
Another preventive move is let an eye doctor know if or when you experience any changes in your vision.
Talk to your eye doctor to find out which treatments are best suited for you.
American Foundation for the Blind.Facts and figures on adults with vision loss.
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.Global estimates of vision loss.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Blindness and vision loss.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common eye disorders and diseases.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Adult cataract.
BrightFocus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: Facts and figures.
National Eye Institute.Age-related macular degeneration.
BrightFocus Foundation.Age-related macular degeneration: facts & figures.
BrightFocus Foundation.Wet macular degeneration.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Diabetic retinopathy: causes, symptoms, treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence estimates for diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Types of glaucoma.
