Many people associate low vision with older adults, usually above the age of 70. But the truth is that low vision can affect anyone at any age, even newborn babies.
An example of this is Stargardt’s disease, a genetic eye disease that affects millions of young people worldwide. Fortunately, patients with Stargardt’s disease are able to live full and independent lives with the help of low vision aids and devices. At , we help patients achieve their goals while living with low vision.
What is Stargardt’s Disease?
Stargardt’s disease, often called juvenile macular dystrophy, is a progressive eye disease that causes gradual damage to the light-sensing cells in the macula. This disease is inherited from parent to child. Both parents need to carry the mutated gene for the disease to be expressed.
Stargardt’s disease affects about one in 10,000 people. It causes parts of the macula (the central part of the retina) to stop working, due to a fatty build-up.
Symptoms of Stargardt’s usually begin to manifest in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood and typically include:
- Distorted central vision
- Dark areas in the central vision
- Poor color vision
- Difficulty adjusting between bright and dark environments
The progression of Stargardt’s disease varies significantly from person to person, and vision may deteriorate slowly at first over several decades. However, once eyesight decreases to 6/12 there is often a faster rate of vision loss until the visual acuity has dropped to 6/60.
Noticeable loss of sight usually starts in childhood, before the age of 10, but some may only start to lose their vision when they enter adulthood. If visual acuity decreases to 20/200, it usually plateaus at this level. Because only the macula is affected, people with Stargardt’s usually have intact peripheral vision throughout their lives.
Unfortunately, there isn’t yet a treatment for Stargardt’s disease, but drug trials are underway. Certain lifestyle adjustments can help preserve healthy vision, like wearing sunglasses while outdoors and avoiding smoking.
Low vision aids and devices can be very helpful to patients with Stargardt’s disease by allowing them to independently carry out meaningful activities.
How Can Low Vision Aids Help Patients with Stargardt’s Disease?
Patients with Stargardt’s disease can greatly benefit from custom-designed low vision aids and devices. Popular low vision aids used by people with Stargardt’s disease include:
- Magnifiers to help with reading, identifying faces, watching TV, using a computer and other similar activities.
- Bioptics and optical systems to enhance several daily functions. These devices typically include hands-free glasses that contain telescopic or microscopic lenses.
- Electronic eyewear that can be customized to promote independence and possibly allow a patient to safely drive.
Low vision aids and devices work by expanding the patient’s vision and refracting light onto the healthy parts of the retina. Each patient is offered the low vision aids and devices that best suit their individual lifestyle, visual goals and ocular condition.
How Your IALVS Eye Doctor Can Help
Our IALVS eye doctors are highly trained and skilled in helping low vision patients overcome the obstacles of daily living. We use the latest technologies in low vision and most advanced diagnostic equipment to determine which aids suit you best.
Let us help you do the things that bring you joy. Contact your local IALVS eye doctor to schedule your low vision consultation today.
Our practice serves patients from CITY 1, CITY 2, CITY 3, and CITY 4, and surrounding communities.