Beyond Regular Prescription Eyeglasses
When most people think about eyeglasses, the prescription glasses that come to mind are for refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Many people wear glasses for driving; 
students may need a pair of specs to see the board. Some people wear glasses all the time, and reading glasses are common if not universal among the middle-aged and senior citizens, but there are some eye conditions that require specialized eyewear.
Low vision refers to eyesight that is not fully corrected by prescription eyeglasses. It is often caused by age related eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration. More rarely, low vision can deprive young patients of their vision, resulting from hereditary diseases like Stargardt’s disease.
At eye doctors in Kirkland near Seattle, WA low vision glasses are available.
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects millions of people worldwide. Thought to be triggered by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV light from the sun) among other factors, the progressive eye disease leads to a breakdown of the part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision. The current AMD treatments available are primarily preventative, but some vision loss may occur, and it will often be unrecoverable. For people suffering from low vision from macular degeneration glasses may help. Often, low vision aides, including telescopic glasses with integrated magnifiers, can alleviate some of the frustration of not seeing clearly, especially when it comes to reading material and other up-close work.
If you or a loved one is experiencing low vision book a consult with our optometrist to discuss some options for managing low vision including glasses in Seattle at Optical Images.