Low vision is a term commonly used to mean partial sight, or sight that isn't fully correctable with surgery, medications, contact lenses, or glasses.
In the United States, the foremost common causes of low vision are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy; although, people can also be born with conditions such as albinism or optic nerve damage which can result in low vision.
Magnification devices, electronic devices, computer-access software, as well as other assistive and mainstream technologies are used to help people maximize their remaining vision or learn alternate ways to do things, such as using their sense of touch or their sense of hearing.
The American Foundation for the Blind's monthly, online, technology magazine, AccessWorld®, reports on many of these technologies that assist people with all levels of vision loss. If you or someone you know is experiencing vision loss, check out AccessWorld for the latest tech news and accessibility information on cell phones, main stream and assistive technology, personal medical devices, office equipment, e-book readers, digital audio players, and web-based technology.
Lee Huffman is AFB's Technology Information Editor and Editor-in-Chief of AccessWorld.
