Low vision
Low Vision Care Guide helping patients use the vision they have.
Low vision is vision loss that makes everyday activities hard and cannot be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, according to the National Eye Institute. A primary care practice can identify these patients, fit devices and coordinate rehabilitation, while continuing to manage the disease behind the loss.
Quick answer
Identify, equip, refer.
Patients with AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions often reach a point where treatment protects what is left but cannot restore it. A low vision service gives them devices, training referrals and a reason to stay with your practice, alongside the medical care you already provide.
Key takeaways
- The NEI lists AMD, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma as common causes.
- Low vision is more common in older adults because those diseases are.
- Devices range from magnifiers and telescopes to electronic systems.
- Medicare covers physician-prescribed vision rehabilitation by approved professionals.
- Most patients need both devices and training to get real benefit.
Guides in this section.
Two core guides, plus the retina guides that feed patients into low vision care.
Low Vision Aids Guide
Spectacle microscopes, magnifiers, telescopes, electronic systems, filters and implantable options.
Low Vision Rehabilitation
The care team, the Medicare framework and a five-step service flow.
Geographic Atrophy Treatments
Late dry AMD patients are frequent low vision candidates.
AREDS2 Supplement Guide
Protecting the fellow eye when late AMD is present in one eye.
Diabetic Eye Disease Guide
Annual exams that catch diabetic disease before vision is lost.
Macular Degeneration Care Guide
The full retina and AMD section.
AOA visual impairment levels.
Based on best-corrected acuity in the better eye.
| Acuity, better eye | AOA category | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|
| 20/30 to 20/60 | Mild vision loss or near-normal vision | Lighting, contrast and refraction |
| 20/70 to 20/160 | Moderate visual impairment | Magnifiers and task lighting |
| 20/200 or worse | Severe visual impairment | Stronger and electronic devices, rehabilitation |
| 20/500 to 20/1000 | Profound visual impairment | Non-visual techniques plus devices |
| Less than 20/1000 | Near-total visual impairment | Rehabilitation and assistive technology |
Ask every patient with permanent vision loss one question: what do you wish you could still do? That single answer tells you which device to trial first and which referral to write.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as low vision?
The NEI describes it as a vision problem that makes everyday activities hard and cannot be fixed with standard treatments.
Is low vision the same as legal blindness?
No. The AOA defines legal blindness as 20/200 or worse in the better eye with best correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Low vision includes milder levels too.
Who should provide low vision care?
Optometrists and ophthalmologists evaluate and prescribe devices; occupational therapists and other specialists provide training.
Does Medicare cover it?
CMS has stated that physician-prescribed vision rehabilitation by approved professionals is covered on the same basis as other conditions. Eyeglasses and refraction are excluded.
How does this fit a primary care practice?
Most low vision patients already see you for their eye disease. A dedicated evaluation slot and a referral list are enough to start.
Is there a patient page I can share?
Yes. Vision Rescue has a plain-language low vision page for patients at visionrescue.com.
References
- National Eye Institute. Low vision. NEI
- American Optometric Association. Low vision and vision rehabilitation. AOA
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Program Memorandum AB-02-078: Medicare coverage of rehabilitation services for beneficiaries with vision impairment. 2002. CMS PDF
- Every source used across these guides is listed on the Vision Rescue sources page.
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
Information only, not clinical or legal advice. Product names are trademarks of their owners and appear for identification; Vision Rescue does not endorse or review them. Scope of practice, coverage and coding rules vary by state and payer, so confirm locally. Clinical decisions rest with the treating eye doctor.
Support patients after treatment ends.
Add a low vision evaluation and a referral pathway, and keep these patients connected to your practice.