Causes of Vision Loss
The leading causes of vision loss or blindness include:
- Glaucoma — a disease that causes gradual damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain.
- Macular degeneration — a condition that affects the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision and is a leading cause of permanent central vision loss in people over 65.
- Cataracts — a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. This most likely results with advancing age.
- Diabetic retinopathy — a complication of diabetes where retinal blood vessels break down, leak or become blocked, impairing vision over time. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-aged adults, ages 20–74 years, in the U.S.
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- Experience the Vision Impairment Simulator
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You can find additional information about vision loss by exploring our website and by visiting the following links and sites:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vision Health
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- The Center for the Partially Sighted
- Perkins School for the Blind
- The American Council of the Blind
- The American Foundation for the Blind
- The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind
- Prevent Blindness America
- The National Federation of the Blind
- American Printing House for the Blind
- Braille Institute of America
- The Seeing Eye
- FamilyConnect for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
- American Federation for the Blind Senior Site
- “Guide to Braille Resources” by SuperSummary
- “Childproofing Your Home for a Child with Vision Impairment”
- “Addiction Recovery In People Who Are Visually Impaired”
- MakeTheConnection.net – Recovery resources for veterans