Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness

For those who have experienced some loss of vision, low vision aids may be of some help.

Those with "dry" macular degeneration will not experience a tremendous change in vision. There may be some blurriness or difficulty in reading but this should not interfere with everyday tasks.

Generally, there are two forms of macular degeneration. The first, known as "dry," is a milder, more common form of the disease. Ninety percent of those who have macular degeneration have this "dry" kind and will not experience any great changes in their vision.

It is virtually impossible to prevent most eye diseases but in some cases, it is possible to prevent blindness or serious vision impairment caused by these diseases. A first step in detecting macular degeneration is to take the Amsler grid test. More importantly, you should see your eye doctor regularly. One fact bears repeating: Successful treatment for macular degeneration and many other eye diseases depends on early detection.

At a distance of about 12 inches, look at the grid (Amsler Grid); cover one eye and look at the white dot in the center.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the pressure inside the eye rises above normal. This excessive pressure can destroy both retinal cells and optic nerve fibers and blind the eye.

While glaucoma can occur without warning, the following symptoms are possible.

Although open-angle glaucoma can affect anyone, it is most prevalent in Blacks over age 40 and anyone over age 60. As people grow older, age-related changes in the eyes make them more susceptible to open-angle glaucoma.