Low Vision Aid & Vision Therapy

Making the Most of the Vision You Have

When vision cannot be fully restored through surgery, glasses, or medical treatment, life does not have to stop. Low vision refers to a level of visual impairment that significantly affects daily life but is not complete blindness — and for many people with low vision, the right tools, devices, and therapies can make an enormous difference to independence, confidence, and quality of life. At RGC Eye Hospital, our low vision specialists work with patients to maximise the vision they have and help them adapt, cope, and thrive.

What Is Low Vision?

Low vision is defined as a significant visual impairment that cannot be corrected to normal with standard glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. It can result from conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, or congenital eye disorders. While the underlying condition may not be reversible, the impact of low vision on daily life can often be significantly reduced through the right combination of optical devices, training, and adaptive strategies.

Common Causes of Low Vision

• Age-related macular degeneration — affecting central vision
• Advanced glaucoma — causing peripheral vision loss
• Diabetic retinopathy — affecting vision across the retina
• Retinitis Pigmentosa — progressive loss of peripheral and night vision
• Congenital conditions affecting vision from birth or early childhood
• Optic nerve damage from various causes

Low Vision Assessment and Rehabilitation

Comprehensive Low Vision Assessment

We begin with a thorough assessment of your remaining vision — testing distance and near vision, contrast sensitivity, and visual field — to understand exactly what you can and cannot see, and how your visual impairment is affecting your daily life and activities.

Low Vision Aids

A wide range of optical and electronic devices can help patients with low vision make better use of their remaining sight. These include magnifying spectacles, stand and hand magnifiers, telescopic lenses for distance tasks, and electronic magnification systems that display enlarged images on a screen.

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy involves structured exercises and training programmes designed to improve the efficiency of the visual system. In children, it is used to treat conditions such as amblyopia, convergence insufficiency, and binocular vision problems. In adults with low vision, training in the use of eccentric viewing — using the peripheral retina instead of the damaged central area — can help restore reading and other near tasks.

Practical Training and Support

Our specialists provide practical guidance on how to use low vision aids effectively, how to modify the home and work environment to make the most of available lighting and contrast, and how to access further rehabilitation and support services.

Why Patients Trust RGC Eye Hospital

• Specialist low vision assessment and rehabilitation by experienced professionals
• A wide range of optical and electronic aids trialled and fitted in clinic
• Vision therapy programmes tailored to the individual needs of each patient
• A compassionate, encouraging approach that focuses on what is possible — not what is lost