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Vision Conditions

Vision loss symptoms are most commonly found in individuals aged 65 and older, but visual impairment can affect people of all ages. If you have been diagnosed with an eye disease or notice a change in your vision, Vision Support America is here to help bring your life back into focus. Below are some common types of vision loss.

Types of Vision Loss

Vision loss symptoms are most commonly found in individuals aged 65 and older, but visual impairment can affect people of all ages. If you have been diagnosed with an eye disease or notice a decline in your vision, Vision Support America is here to help bring your life back into focus. Explore some common types of vision loss below.

Common Vision Loss Conditions

Diabetic Retinopathy

Causes:

Complications of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

How it works:

High blood sugar levels damage tiny blood vessels in the retina, leading to hemorrhages.

Symptoms:
  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Deep reddish veil over the field of vision
  • Varying degrees of vision loss
Simulation of diabetic retinopathy showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake partially obscured by scattered dark blurry spots and shadowy patches throughout the visual field, creating uneven vision loss and difficulty seeing details clearly.

Macular Degeneration

Causes:

Natural aging or genetic factors

How it works:

Aging damages the macula, affecting central vision.

Symptoms:
  • Blurred, distorted vision
  • Large blank spots in the central vision
Simulation of macular degeneration showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake where the central portion of the visual field is blacked out and the peripheral scenery remains visible and clear.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Causes:

Hereditary

How it works:

This condition leads to chronic retinal degeneration and abnormal pigment deposits, reducing peripheral (side) vision.

Symptoms:
  • Progressive decrease in peripheral, or side vision
  • “Tunnel vision,” or only being able to see directly forward
  • Difficulty seeing at night
Simulation of retinitis pigmentosa showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake where the peripheral visual field is blacked out and the central portion provides a shadowy frame of scenery that is visible and clear.

Glaucoma

Causes:

Damage to the optic nerve, often due to high fluid pressure in the eye.

How it works:

Optic nerve damage reduces peripheral vision.

Symptoms:
  • "Tunnel vision”
  • Total blindness
Simulation of glaucoma showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake where the peripheral visual field is mostly blacked out except for a central portion in the shape of a shadowy angular crescent frame where the scenery remains visible and clear.

Cataracts

Causes:
  • Natural aging
  • Diabetes
  • Eye injury
How it works:

Breakdown of proteins in the eye’s lens forms cataracts, leading to clouding of vision.

Symptoms:
  • Clouding or blurring vision in one or both eyes

It is estimated that 95 percent of those over 65 have some degree of cataract that may or may not cause blurring of vision in one or both eyes. If it interferes with daily activities, surgical removal and lens implantation can significantly improve vision.

Simulation of cataracts showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake appearing heavily washed out, hazy, and low contrast, with faded colors and reduced clarity across the entire image.

Homonymous Hemianopia

Causes:

Neurological disorder, often due to brain injury such as a stroke.

How it works:

Brain injury or other conditions can impact the way your brain receives visual information from your eyes. If your brain struggles to receive this information, it results in vision loss.

Symptoms:
  • Absence of vision toward one side of each eye
Simulation of homonymous hemianopia showing a mountain landscape and reflective lake with the entire left half of the visual field obscured in black darkness, while only the right side of the scenery remains visible and clear.

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