LOW VISION IN MUMBAI Low vision is the term used to describe significant visual impairment that can't be corrected fully with glasses, contact lenses, medication or eye surgery. It includes: • Loss of best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA) to worse than 20/70 in the better eye. • Significant visual field loss. Tunnel vision (lack of vision in the periphery) and blind spots are examples of visual field loss. • Legal blindness. In the United States, legal blindness typically is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse (in the better eye, with the best possible vision correction in place) or a field of view (visual field) that is constricted to 20 degrees or less. Disability statistics from the 2014 American Community Survey show that 2.3 percent of individuals ages 16 and over have a visual disability or low vision. Causes Of Low Vision Eye diseases are a common cause of low vision. For example: • Hazy, blurry vision can result from cataracts. • Blurred or partially obscured central vision is typical of macular degeneration. • Diabetic retinopathy causes blind spots, blurriness and visual distortions. • Poor peripheral vision is a hallmark of glaucoma. • Retinitis pigmentosa reduces peripheral vision and the ability to see in the dark. • Light sensitivity and loss of contrast are other symptoms of these and other diseases. • Heredity and eye injuries can result in low vision. The Impact Of Low Vision Children can have low vision due to a birth defect or injury. Visually impaired children may have learning problems that require special instruction and they may need help developing socialization skills. You can use the versatile Acrobat LCD video magnifier from Enhanced Vision for reading, writing and self-viewing. Vision loss in adults and seniors can be particularly traumatic, leading to frustration and depression. Losing the ability to drive safely, read quickly, watch television or view a computer screen can cause people with low vision to feel shut off from the world. They may be unable to get around town independently or shop for food and other necessities. Many people with low vision also have difficulty making a living, as the following statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey of 2010 illustrate: • The employment rate for visually disabled Americans ages 21-64 (working age) was only 37.2 percent in 2010. The full-time/full-year employment rate was 24 percent. And of those without a job, only 13.5 percent were actively looking for work. • Individual poverty rates were 29.5 percent for visually disabled people vs. 11.9 percent of those with no disability. Some visually impaired people become very dependent on friends and relatives, while others suffer alone. That's a shame, because many ingenious low vision devices are available to help people overcome vision impairment and live independently. What To Do About Low Vision If you have a vision impairment that interferes with your ability to perform everyday activities and enjoy life, your first step is to see an eye care professional for a complete eye exam. Poor vision that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses could be the first sign of a serious eye disease such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa. Or it could mean you are developing a cataract that needs removal. Whatever the case, it's wise to take action before further vision loss occurs. If your eye doctor finds that you have vision loss that cannot be corrected adequately with standard eyewear, medical treatment or surgery, he or she will help you take the next steps toward coping with your new situation. An eye doctor who doesn't work in the low vision arena would refer you to a low vision specialist. A low vision specialist can evaluate the degree and type of vision loss you have, prescribe appropriate low vision aids such as lighted handheld magnifiers, digital desktop magnifiers and bioptic telescopes, and help you learn how to use them. Newer options include handheld digital magnifiers for shopping or eating out, as well as software that simplifies computer use with magnification and text-to-speech features. The low vision specialist also can recommend non-optical adaptive devices, such as large-face printed material, audio recordings, special light fixtures and signature guides for signing checks and documents. Special eyewear with tinted UV filters can help with light sensitivity and heighten contrast. If necessary, your specialist or eye doctor also can refer you to a mental health professional and/or mobility coach to help you cope with your vision loss. CONTACT LENS IN MUMBAI Contact lens: We are providing all types of contact lenses eg. Soft, RGP , ROSE -K , SCLERAL , MINI- SCLERAL SCLERAL CONTACT LENS : HELP TO REDUCE KERATOCONNUS X-CHROME CONTACT LENSES :It helps to develop the color vision . Bifocal Contact Lenses/MULTIFOCAL Bifocal contact lenses are designed to give good vision to people who have a condition called presbyopia. The key sign that you’re developing presbyopia is that you need to hold reading material, like a menu or newspaper, farther from your eyes to see it clearly. Bifocal contact lenses are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable (GP) materials, and some can be worn on a disposable basis. That means you can have the convenience of throwing the lenses out at specified intervals (even daily, in some cases) and replacing them with fresh, new lenses. Also, one bifocal brand is available in silicone hydrogel material. RGP Contact Lens Rigid gas permeable contact lenses, also called RGP or GP contact lenses, are made from a firm plastic material and contain no water. Unlike hard lenses, RGP lenses permit oxygen to pass directly through the lens to the eye so that it may “breathe.” Because they transmit oxygen these lenses are referred to as gas permeable. RGP lenses are custom made, they can be designed to fit your eye exactly. Chandra KC Lenses The Chandra Scleral Lens, a highly oxygen permeable rigid (120 DK) contact lens device the size of a 50 paisa, is designed to rest on the tough relatively insensitive tissue of the eye called the sclera. By enclosing an artificial tear-filled space over the diseased cornea, the most sensitive tissue of the human body, it functions as a soothing and healing liquid bandage that relieves the pain and light sensitivity of severe dry eyes and chronic corneal inflammation while encouraging the healing of erosions and ulcers even when all other treatments have failed.) Prosthetic Lenses The soft lens of choice for hiding corneal disfigurement and treatment of photophobia. Planned to help hide corneal scarring or to treat a wide range of conditions, including photophobia. For Congenital and Surgical Photosensitivity: Prosthetic lenses provide glare reduction from Coloboma, Albinism, Reduced Glare and Pupil Photophobia. Design A: Black pupil only. Application: (Occlusion) Amblyopia Therapy, Anti-suppression therapy, Diplopia (Pathological or Physiological), Mature non-operable Cataracts. Lens Subluxation, Iris Hypertrophy Indications: (Cornea) Scarred, Opaque, Leucoma, Band Keratopahty, Vascularisation. Designs B & C : Even tinted Iris and Pupil with clear Periphery. Application :Cosmetic enhancement, Photophobia, Albinism, Key Hole Pupil (usually C), Post Surgical Glaucoma (C only), Polycoria (C only), Microcorea (C only). Design D :Black Pupil, Tinted Iris & Clear Periphery. Application :Corneal Disfiguration, Corneal Scarring, Decentered Pupil. Indications : Iris Coloboma, Aphakic Iris Coloboma. Iris Tint:Brown, Shades: Light, Medium or Dark. Iris Diameters: 10.50mm, 11.70mm & 12.50mm., Pupil Diameters: 2.50mm, 3.50mm, 5.00mm, 6.00mm & 7.00mm. Power: Only designs B & C can be given any required power.N.B. With 10.50mm Iris Diameter only 2.50mm & 3.50mm Diameter Pupil is available. Lenses made of 75% water content material and can be ordered to prescription (please state whether fitting carried out with flexilens 44 or flexilens 88 lenses). As a general guide 8.60 / Plano / 13.80 will usually suit 60% to 70% of all eyes