Partially sighted
Partially sighted means that your visual acuity is less than normal, your visual field is smaller or you are exceptionally sensitive to light, for example. If eyeglasses no longer help you see better, then you are considered partially sighted.
There are many different forms of partial sightedness. Some people cannot see clearly, others see all sorts of dark spots, and some people can only see what appears directly in front of them and nothing at the sides. From figures published by Vision2020, it emerges that an estimate of 223,000 people in the Netherlands is partially sighted.
Causes of partial sightedness
- Congenial, such as CVI or albinism
- Aging, such as cataracts or diabetes
- Other eye disorders
A very common condition among children is a ‘lazy eye’. A lazy eye is easily treated by covering the good eye every day with an eye bandage.
In older people, partial sightedness can occur suddenly, but the problems or symptoms often get gradually worse. Sudden partial sightedness occurs when the retina detaches and the retina’s blood vessels close up as a result of a blood clot.