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Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
1800 111 709
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  • Macular Disease
    • Macular Degeneration
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
      • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetes
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low Vision
      • Living with Low Vision
      • Carer and Family
      • Aids and Technology
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
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      • Retinal Detachment
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      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
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Macular Disease Foundation Australia
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Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
      • Vietnamese
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • Check My Macula
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
        • Macular Pucker
        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Panel
      • Support Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Understanding Research
        • Social Impact
      • Research Updates
        • Annual Research Update
        • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
      • Research studies
        • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
    • Resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
      • Find a Healthcare Provider
      • Audio and Video
        • Audio
        • Podcasts
        • Patient Voices
        • Videos
      • Macula Menus
      • Check My Macula toolkits
      • Aged care resources
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        • Subscribe to Newsletters
        • Archive
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        • 2021 news
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        • Archived News
      • Events & Activities
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        • Events Calendar
        • Watch past webinars
      • Media Centre
        • Media Releases
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        • Annual Reports
        • Whistleblower Policy
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        • Ambassadors
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        • National Research Advisor
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        • Support Services
        • Research
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Back

Macular Disease

  • Macular Degeneration
    • Check My Macula
      • Is your practice registered for Check My Macula?
      • Order your Check My Mac pack
    • About Macular Degeneration
      • How The Eye Works
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
      • Lifestyle
      • Nutrition
        • Nutrient Content of Foods
      • Supplements
    • Detection
      • Early Signs
      • Changes to Vision
      • Professional Testing
      • Amsler Grid
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Early and Intermediate Macular Degeneration
      • Wet Macular Degeneration
      • Dry Macular Degeneration
    • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • How the Eye Works
    • About Diabetes
      • Diabetes and the Eye
    • What Happens?
    • Risk Factors
    • Prevention
    • Detection
      • Testing
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
      • Diabetes Care Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Low Vision
    • Living with Low Vision
      • Causes
      • Impact
      • Challenges
      • Just Diagnosed
      • Maintaining Independence
        • Reading
        • Driving
        • Lifestyle
      • Low Vision Assessment
        • Visiting a Low Vision Service Provider
      • Coping Strategies
      • Depression
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Carer and Family
      • Guide for Care
      • Becoming a Carer
      • Care Plan
      • Support Team
      • Effective Communication
      • Guiding
      • Caring for the Carer
      • Entitlements
      • Impact of Caring
    • Aids and Technology
      • Ten Step Action Plan
      • Living Aids
        • Lighting
        • Reading Aids
        • Optical Magnifiers
        • Spectacles
        • Organisation
        • Writing Aids
        • Talking Aids
        • Leisure
      • Mobility Aids
        • Guide Dogs
        • Canes
        • Electronic Mobility Aids
      • Technology
        • Mobile Phones
        • Television and Radio
        • Audio Technology
          • Computers and Software
          • Electronic Magnifiers
        • Subsidy Programs
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Reducing Risk
          • Around the Home
          • In the Community
          • Your Health
            • Mobility and Strength
            • Medicines
          • Mobility Training
        • Falling
          • Why We Fall
          • Planning For Help
          • After A Fall
          • Fear of Falling
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease

    Low Vision


    Low vision is often a loss of sharpness or acuity. It may also present as a loss of field of vision, light sensitivity, distorted vision or a loss of contrast.

    A person is said to have low vision when their eyesight is limited or impaired and cannot be adequately corrected with surgery, conventional glasses or contact lenses.

    Low vision can affect people of all ages and have an impact on many aspects of their life. It may cause problems with reading, using the computer, dialling the telephone, and watching TV. Low vision can make it difficult to recognise faces, see stairs, cross the road and undertake daily living and leisure activities. Low vision services are essential in helping the individual and their family, carers and friends to cope with the challenges of low vision.

    How low vision is measured

    Low vision is measured by distance visual acuity. When a person has normal vision their visual acuity is rated 6/6 or 20/20. This rating indicates that the person can read the letters on an eye chart, which is designed to be seen at a distance of six metres or twenty feet away.  

    A person is said to have low vision when they see fewer letters on the eye chart from this distance. For example 6/18 means that the patient can see at 6 metres, what a person with normal vision is able to see at 18 metres.  A person is considered legally blind if they cannot see at six metres what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres or if their field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter.


    Living With Low Vision

    You can live well with low vision by maximising the vision you have.
    Read more

    Carer and Family

    Carers and family play an important role in the support team.
    Read more

    Aids and Technologies

    Access aids and technologies to help manage daily activities and hobbies.
    Read more

    Slips, Trips and Falls

    Reduce the risk of a fall by making changes to your environment and lifestyle.
    Read more

    Legal blindness

    What is legal blindness and what kind of support can you receive with legal blin...
    Read more
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