After years of intensive public education efforts about the causes and symptoms of a mysterious hallucinatory condition affecting visually impaired people, Prevent Blindness and other patient advocacy organizations are pleased that Charles Bonnet Syndrome will soon be officially recognized by eye care professionals around the world. As described in the latest revision of the International […]
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment in people over age 60. Because it affects millions of senior adults, it deserves a great deal of attention. Another common condition also deserving of consideration is dry eye. Dry eye often accompanies AMD, but only because it most commonly affects the same […]
Studies show there is a gender gap in eye disease. Women are more likely than men to suffer from sight-threatening conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma.1 In support of Healthy Vision Month in May, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds women to make vision a top priority. Women make up 65 percent […]
A new study conducted by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) has found that one in five Canadians with vision loss who were surveyed experience visual hallucinations, known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). The study, titled “Prevalence of visual hallucinations in a national low vision client population”, published in the most recent issue […]
Important Information from the National Eye Institute Glaucoma is a major cause of vision loss in the U.S. While it currently affects about 3 million Americans, estimates show 6.3 million could have glaucoma by 2050. With Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, it’s a good time to think about scheduling a comprehensive dilated eye exam, especially […]
This uses your hyperacuity to easily locate areas of visual distortion possibly caused by fluid or blood leakage in your retina. Print this page, then cut out the strip of dots below. With one eye shut, gaze at the center of the graph from a distance of about 12 inches (30 cm). Slide the strip […]
by David Twigg (freelance writer, Sheffield, England) (Reprinted here with permission from https://www.edel-optics.co.uk/Retinitis-Pigmentosa.html) Retinitis Pigmentosa covers a group of eye conditions affecting the retina, leading to sight problems and loss of vision. It is one of the conditions falling under the heading of Rod-Cone Dystrophy, genetic conditions in which the rod and cone cells in the eye deteriorate […]
For something so important, most people know very little about their eyeglasses. What do those abbreviations and numbers on the prescription mean? Why do my friend and I have the same prescription numbers, when my vision is so much worse? What does 20/20 mean? If my best vision without glasses is 20/200, am I legally […]
by Dan Roberts Ophthalmic nearsightedness (myopia) results from an abnormal elongation of the eyeball during the growing years. This extra “axial length” causes objects at a distance to appear out of focus, which can usually be corrected with prescription glasses. The physical aspects of extreme nearsightedness (hypermyopia), however, can lead to a type of uncorrectable […]
by Dan Roberts Editor-in-Chief, Prevent Blindness I was looking through our Prevent Blindness online library today and realized how many “listicles” there are. Listicles are articles formatted into lists, which old-school journalists say are rotting our brains. I should worry about that, but I enjoy reading and writing them, so I’ll take my chances. I […]