Vision loss requires a new vocabulary. Here are some commonly used terms...

Acuity: Refers to the sharpness of vision. It is described with a fraction referring to which line could be seen on the eye chart.  20/20 is considered average visual acuity.

Age-related macular degeneration: This condition causes a blind spot in the center of the visual field. Blurry vision and difficulty reading and recognizing faces are common problems experienced by individuals with this condition. 

Bioptic driving: A method of driving that combines the use of the driver’s vision with a small telescopic system. It allows some people with low vision to drive.

Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS): A professional who provides in-home services to veterans who have low vision or are blind. They are part of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cataract: The lens, part of the eye, gradually becomes cloudy instead of clear and causes blurred vision.  Modern surgery will remove the lens and replace it with an artificial lens to restore clear vision.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC): Professional who coordinates rehabilitation services to help individuals with limited vision or other disabilities to maintain or obtain employment.

Client/Consumer: Term used for people who are blind or have low vision who are seeking or receiving services from a service provider.

Consumer group: Organizations whose members are people who are blind or have low vision. These organizations advocate for policies, provide educational opportunities, and often sponsor local chapters where members can meet each other. Find more information about two of these groups at www.nfb.org and www.acb.org.

Contrast: The color difference between an object and the background. For instance, red print on white paper has less contrast than black print on white paper. Individuals with less vision may function better with more contrast.

Counting Fingers (CF): This is a term used to express a person’s visual acuity. During a vision test, if the individual cannot see the letters on the eye chart, they will be asked to count how many fingers the examiner is holding up.

Depth Perception: Describes a person’s ability to distinguish the distance between objects. It includes being able to see things in three dimensions. Depth perception is often affected when the acuity of one eye is very different from the other.

Diopter: A unit of measurement that describes the optical power of a lens. It is commonly used to describe the strength of prescription lenses with a plus (+) or a negative (-) in front of a number.

Field of View (FoV): How much of the world a person can see at a given moment. Usually expressed as degrees of an angle. Normally this spans 190 degrees.

Functional Vision Assessment (FVA): An evaluation performed by a vision professional in a natural setting – home, work, etc. It evaluates a person’s visual strengths and limitations.

Intraocular Lens (IOL): Permanent, artificial lenses that are placed in a person’s eye to help restore vision. They are often used after cataract surgery. 

Legally Blind (LB): Refers to a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best possible correction and/or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. A person with good vision sees from 200 feet the same detail a person with 20/200 vision sees from 20 feet. In this case, the “E” at the top of the Snellen Eye chart. 

Low Vision Exam (LVE): Done by an eye care professional in a clinical setting. Low vision is measured to determine acuity at a distance and close-up, sensitivity to contrast, etc. Low vision aids are demonstrated and prescribed. 

Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Converts printed text into a document that can be read aloud on a smartphone or a computer. It is often done with the use of a portable scanning device or through an app on a smartphone.

Orientation and Mobility (O&M): Training that helps a person who is blind or has low vision to get around safely and confidently. O&M can include topics like using public transportation, wayfinding devices, and the use of a long cane. 

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP): Genetic eye disease that affects a person’s retina. Individuals with RP usually lose their peripheral or side vision, causing difficulty seeing at night or in low light situations. 

Screen magnification: Devices or software that allow a person to enlarge the size of text and images on their computer screen.

Screen reader: Assistive technology that takes text or images on a computer screen and translates them into audio or braille output.

State Rehabilitation Services: Each U.S. state has a Department of Vocational Rehabilitation that provides services to people who are blind or have low vision who wish to start a job or keep their old one. Services are free and include rehabilitation services, help with learning to use assistive technology, and help finding and interviewing for jobs.

Video magnifier: An electronic device that helps people with low vision magnify text or view images. It uses a camera to project enlarged contrast-enhanced images onto a monitor.

Vision rehabilitation therapy: Training that helps a person who is blind or has low vision to perform all activities of daily living but also can provide adaptations for leisure and social activities.

Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST): Similar to CRCs, but within the Veterans Administration (VA), VIST coordinators manage the services a person receives related to their vision loss.

There are many new terms and unfamiliar words when you are new to vision loss.  For more explanation, visit the searchable website www.visionaware.org