Visual Impairment

The definition of vision impairment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a visually impaired person’s eyesight cannot be corrected to a “normal level”.

What is visual impairment?

The definition of vision impairment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a visually impaired person’s eyesight cannot be corrected to a “normal level”.

Diagnosis of visual impairment

Treatment of visual impairment

Does looking at a computer damage your eyes?

Nearsightedness and Farsightedness

Latest Visual Impairment News and Research

Research reveals urgent need for updated vision screening for older drivers

Research indicates an urgent need for updated vision screening policies and safer infrastructure to protect aging drivers.

17 Apr 2025

Better hearing and vision linked to stronger cognitive health in older adults

As we age, our cognitive abilities deteriorate - it becomes increasingly difficult to remember, orient ourselves in time and space, and solve problems.

11 Apr 2025

Semaglutide linked to higher risk of vision problems, FDA data analysis shows

Researchers from the University of Bern analyzed over 300,000 FDA reports and found semaglutide use was linked to a higher reporting rate of vision impairment. The findings call for further study into the ocular risks of this widely prescribed diabetes and weight loss drug.

8 Apr 2025

Macular thickness could predict postoperative delirium in older patients

Thickening of the macular layer of the eye's retina is associated with a greater risk of postoperative delirium for older patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthetic, reveals a study published online in the open access journal General Psychiatry.

2 Apr 2025

Faricimab lacks proof of added benefit over comparator therapies for macular edema

Since July 2024, faricimab has also been approved in Europe for the treatment of visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

27 Dec 2024

Experts identify five elements of brain-based visual impairment in children

Experts convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified five elements of a brain-based condition that has emerged as a leading cause of vision impairment starting in childhood in the United States and other industrialized nations.

20 Nov 2024

Study reveals inadequacy of time extensions for Braille users in complex exams

Students often appear for high-stakes tests that hold significant weight in determining their futures. One such examination, the Common Test for University Admissions, currently allows examinees using braille an extended examination time of 1.5 times the standard duration.

8 Nov 2024

WHO confirms elimination of trachoma in South Asia

The world moved closer to eliminating trachoma this month after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed India and Pakistan as being free of the disease, a leading cause of blindness.

16 Oct 2024

A novel approach to understanding protein compartmentalization

In physics, a system composed of two substances can be modeled in accordance with classical mixture theory, which considers the fraction corresponding to each constituent and the interactions among constituents. Examples include the coexistence of high- and low-density phases in supercooled water and the coexistence of metal puddles in an insulating matrix in the Mott metal-insulator transition.

14 Oct 2024

Researchers boost natural defenses to fight cataracts and delay the need for surgery

Researchers have reviewed strategies to increase glutathione levels in the eye lens, focusing on endogenous molecular mechanisms to prevent cataracts by countering oxidative stress.

3 Oct 2024

Using advanced AI screening tools to improve early detection of myopic maculopathy

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is on the rise, especially among children.

3 Oct 2024

Gene therapy improves vision in patients with Bothnia dystrophy

Bothnia dystrophy is a form of hereditary blindness, prevalent in the region Västerbotten in Sweden. A new study at Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Communications shows that gene therapy can improve vision in patients with the disease.

10 Sep 2024

New preclinical model offers a unique platform for studying Parkinson's disease process

A new preclinical model offers a unique platform for studying the Parkinson's disease process and suggests a relatively easy method for detecting the disease in people, according to a new study led by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.

23 Jul 2024

Saffron: A golden remedy for modern health challenges

Review highlights saffron's potential in preventing and treating various human diseases through its bioactive compounds. Clinical and preclinical studies confirm saffron's benefits in conditions like maculopathy, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.

21 Jul 2024

Omics-based approaches to age-related macular degeneration

A new editorial paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 12, entitled, "Aging retinal pigmented epithelium: omics-based insights into vision decline."

9 Jul 2024

Evaluating the efficacy of harmol in treating herpes simplex virus-induced keratitis

The antiviral efficacy and therapeutic potential of harmol in treating herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) induced keratitis

29 May 2024

AI offers hope for enhanced cataract surgery in developing nations

While the adequate surgical treatment of cataract is guaranteed in high-income countries, the surgical results in the Global South are often inadequate.

15 Apr 2024

Does visual impairment influence mental disorders?

Whether visual impairment (VI) affects mental disorders in the older population.

31 Jan 2024

Preterm babies at higher risk of long-term neurodevelopmental issues, study finds

Children born moderately (32-33 weeks) or late preterm (34-36 weeks) have higher long-term risks of neurodevelopmental difficulties that can affect their behavior and ability to learn, finds a study of over one million children published by The BMJ today.

24 Jan 2024

Machine learning predicts the long-term future of shortsighted eyes

Machine learning has been found to predict well the outcomes of many health conditions. Now, researchers from Japan have found a way to predict whether people with severe shortsightedness will have good or bad vision in the future.

13 Dec 2023