How people with poor vision see the world: instructive photos. How people with poor vision see the world when they take off their glasses: illustrative examples How people with poor vision see

On October 13, many countries celebrate World Sight Day. It was invented thatIf only people would pay attention to the problems of blindness and the prevention of poor vision.

“Open Asia Online” conducted a short survey among people with low vision to find out how they see the world around them, and imagined what it would look like in photographs.

The World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness report annually that people around the world are rapidly deteriorating in their vision. According to the latest data, out of 7 billion people, 285 million live with low vision, of which about 40 million are completely blind.

The situation in Kazakhstan individually is also depressing. This can be judged even by a quick survey of residents. Most of the respondents were myopic. According to statistics, there are more than 75 thousand visually impaired people in the country.

Among the working population, the most common cause of poor vision is eye injuries, followed by myopia. Among pensioners, glaucoma is in first place, malignant tumors are in second place, and lens diseases are in third place. Children are not far behind: most often their eyes suffer from congenital anomalies or injuries.

Aiman Zhusupova. Vision - minus 7

“I had congenital myopia, which was aggravated by the fact that as a child I loved to read books lying down, holding them above me. As a result, my “minus” only increased over the years. At school I experienced terrible inconvenience, since I had to ask my neighbors to tell my desk what is written on the board, or let me copy it. But I didn’t like wearing glasses. I had a big “minus”, so when I wore glasses, the glasses made my eyes look very small, I didn’t like it. There were times when I didn’t recognize people at arm's length. Many even thought that I was arrogant and didn't want to say hello. I was scared to catch a taxi or cross the road alone. I lived with this problem until I was 22, until one day I came across lenses. I bought lenses and the world instantly changed It was an indescribable feeling when you see everything in the smallest detail. Sometimes I was even ashamed to look at people, because it seemed like they were almost naked in front of me!

Therefore, I cannot get enough of the fact that there is such an invention of mankind as lenses. I still revel in this feeling, examining people and objects around me in the smallest detail. The only inconvenience is the material costs, since I wear daily lenses: I have to spend up to 19,000 thousand tenge ($57) per month to have excellent vision."

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Natalya Timirbaeva. Vision - minus 3

“One of my medical records says: I suffer from mild myopia. There really is myopia. And it’s called beautifully - myopia. But there is no suffering about this. Just as there are no complexes due to the fact that I have to wear glasses On the contrary, they seem like a stylish accessory to me, and the search for the right frames always turns into an exciting game of dress-up, where the object becomes not the body, but the face.

As for my views on the world, everything is fine here, since the lenses in my frames are chosen correctly, and with glasses my vision is one (this means that I can see even the smallest lines of the ophthalmologist’s table). Of course, when I take off my glasses, the world changes. And it’s not a fact that it’s for the worse, since wrinkles and other imperfections “disappear” from the faces of my interlocutors. And dust and garbage “dissolve” on the streets.
Without glasses, I calmly navigate this world, cross the road so as not to get hit by a car (I see cars from afar), distinguish not only people from dogs, but also men from women. I can even identify my friends from about five meters away, of course, by their gait and general outline. I can't see the face from this distance.

At home after a shower, I sometimes forget to put on my glasses. And I only remember them when someone turns on the TV. Without glasses, I won’t be able to see the numbers of minibuses or make a purchase in a store where the shelves are separated from customers by a distance of more than two meters. I only watch TV with glasses on and play tennis too. But I read without glasses - it’s more comfortable. And, they say, it’s healthier.”

Azamat Galeev. Vision - minus 1.

“My right eye is minus 1, my left eye is minus 4. Without glasses, I can’t even see the route number of the bus until it pulls up to the stop. Without glasses, the whole world for me, 50-60 meters away, is cloudy, hidden and unpredictable.”

Evgenia Kadikova. Vision - plus 2

“In everyday life I don’t wear glasses, I watch TV and drive a car without them. But I can’t read the expiration date of products in a store without glasses, the same thing happens with messages on the phone, I read and work at the computer only with glasses "Sometimes I wear contact lenses, but I don't really like them - my eyes get tired quickly."

Zhanar Kanafina. Vision - plus 3-4

“I put on my first glasses in the second grade, although in fact I could read and write without them. At the university I only wore them in the library and in the evenings while reading a book. While my vision had some minor “advantages”, I could do without glasses, but over the years the computer “ “eats up” diopters, and, unfortunately, it becomes too much: at work, at home, plus gadgets.

I really love good lighting and large typography. Any small font is annoying. It happens that I may not notice an error in my journalistic text. It's good that there are proofreaders. I don’t wear lenses, they make me dizzy. And glasses are more common."

But this is how people with plus 7 vision see the world. Glasses with such diopters are more like a magnifying glass, and from under the glasses they will look at you with big, surprised eyes. Most often, such lenses in frames are worn by old people. Without glasses, they cannot see letters and numbers on receipts, they cannot see the images on TV well, and this also explains their helplessness in front of a cell phone - it is too small.

Sometimes you notice that older people thread a needle more easily than their bespectacled grandchildren. This is explained simply: with age, myopic people acquire almost one hundred percent vision - the “minus” changes to “plus”, and the result is “one”.

Visual impairment leads to image distortion. In the case of myopia, objects located at a distance appear blurry, and those that are closer appear clearer.

For those who have never encountered vision problems, it is difficult to imagine how a person with myopia sees. People with this disorder report having difficulty distinguishing objects at a distance. The cause of this problem is a change in the shape of the eye lens. Let's take a closer look at the symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention of this disease.

Causes of myopia

Thanks to the development of science, today this visual impairment is well studied. In ophthalmology, the disease is called myopia.

At the physiological level, the pathology is associated with a defect in the shape of the eye lens. Under the influence of a number of factors, it changes and becomes more elongated. As a result, the optical axis of the eye increases, as a result, the refraction of light rays occurs at the wrong angle. The image is ultimately formed not on the retina, as with healthy vision, but in front of it.

Myopia happens:

congenital;
acquired.

In the first case, the disease is detected in a child in the first year of life. Experts believe the cause of its appearance is a genetic predisposition. If mom or dad had vision problems, then with a probability of up to 50% they will be passed on to the child. If the disorder was diagnosed in both parents, then with a risk of up to 75% the disease will be passed on to the baby.

In addition, the cause of congenital myopia during pregnancy can be:

disorders during intrauterine development;
bad habits;
poor nutrition;
infectious diseases;
fetal hypoxia;
premature or difficult birth.

Factors contributing to the development of myopia during life are:

prolonged eye strain;
violation of work and rest schedules;
poor lighting when working with small parts or reading for a long time;
long periods of work at the computer without a break.

Very often, myopia appears in schoolchildren when visual stress increases. During this period, it is very important to pay attention to the problem, since without proper treatment the disease will progress.

Imaginary myopia

Deterioration of vision is not always associated with physiological changes in the lens of the eye. Decreased visual acuity sometimes occurs due to imaginary myopia. During prolonged eye strain, a spasm of accommodation occurs. This phenomenon is called imaginary or false myopia.

Imaginary myopia is a malfunction of the eye (ciliary or ciliary) muscle. This part of the eyeball is responsible for focusing. When viewing objects at a distance, the ciliary muscle relaxes, but when viewed close, on the contrary, it becomes tense. It changes the shape of the lens, allowing us to see equally well near and far. When a spasm occurs, the muscle stops relaxing and is in constant tension. As a result, a person develops all the same symptoms as with myopia, that is, he sees well up close, but at a distance the contours of objects become blurred.

This violation is caused by:

increased visual stress;
osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
constant work at the computer, frequent use of gadgets and watching TV.

Spasm of accommodation occurs in children and adults. As a rule, schoolchildren and students who have to study a lot encounter this phenomenon. In adults, the disorder is often caused by prolonged, uninterrupted work at the computer.

Spasm of accommodation is not an ophthalmological disease, however, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate it, since in the future it can lead to vision problems. There are three ways to get rid of false myopia:

eye drops (usually prescribed “Atropine”, “Tropicamide”, “Mydriacyl”, “Cyclomed”);
physiotherapy (carried out in a medical institution);
gymnastics for the eyes.

Only a specialist can determine whether a person’s myopia is false or true. Therefore, at the first signs of myopia, you should visit an ophthalmologist.

Symptoms of myopia

A person with myopia without clear outlines sees the world around him. Therefore, the main symptom of the disease is blurring of the contours of objects located at a distance.

In addition, myopia may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

rapid eye fatigue;
headache;
fear of light;
burning and pain in the eyes.

How do people with varying degrees of myopia see?

Disturbances that occur in the organs of vision during myopia cause changes in the eyeball, or rather its enlargement. The more the size of the eyeball increases, the more vision decreases.

Myopia causes eye enlargement from 1 to 7 millimeters or more. Every one millimeter deviation from the norm causes vision deterioration by three diopters.

There are three degrees of myopia:

first (or weak) - vision is reduced to -3 diopters;
second (or average) - vision is reduced from -3.25 to -6 diopters;
third (high or strong) - vision is reduced by more than -6.25 diopters.

How do people with myopia see? When vision is slightly reduced, that is, the first degree of the disease is diagnosed, a person sees 90%. In everyday life this manifests itself as minor discomfort. For example, it is difficult to see the number of a house on the opposite side of the street or read a sign on a store from a distance. At the same time, no difficulties arise when viewing objects close up or reading. Sometimes the picture on a TV may become blurry if it is located at a considerable distance. For example, by the way a child sees notes on the board, you can understand whether he has vision problems. In this case, you can do without glasses. However, if a certain action requires special concentration, it is still better to use correction means. So, you should wear glasses while driving a car.

It should be noted that even with a low degree of myopia, you cannot select glasses yourself. Incorrectly selected optical aids can aggravate the problem. In addition, you may experience a headache or painful sensations in the eyes. As you might guess, with each subsequent degree of myopia a person sees worse and worse. With moderate myopia, people have to squint to see objects in the distance. Already at a distance of several meters, things take on blurry outlines. In such a situation on the street, it is difficult to distinguish faces, they seem blurry, and features cannot be discerned. To understand how people with myopia see the world, imagine a blurry photo. At a distance of 20-30 centimeters, people with myopia still see well. When high myopia occurs, people see objects only at arm's length. Vision is only 1-2%. A person sees the text only if they hold a piece of paper close to their face.

In general, myopia is characterized by poor distance vision, but people with myopia can see objects well at close distances.
How a person with visual impairment sees objects is checked in the ophthalmologist’s office using special tables. The most famous of them is the Sivtsev table. Many people have been familiar with the test using it since childhood. It consists of 12 lines. From top to bottom, the font size decreases.

Treatment of myopia

After a diagnosis of myopia is made, the patient is prescribed glasses or contact lenses. Optical products will help you see better in everyday life. But they do not solve the problem of poor vision. Correcting myopia requires medical intervention. There are currently three main treatment options:

medicinal;
physiotherapy;
surgical.

Drugs intended for the treatment of myopia improve blood circulation in the organs of vision, relax the ciliary muscle, and promote metabolic processes. They are available in both drops and tablets. The dosage and course of drug therapy is determined by the doctor. It is worth noting that medications only stop the development of myopia and prevent complications. It is impossible to completely get rid of pathology with the help of drugs alone.

Among the medications that may be prescribed:

“Irifrin” drops - the product helps to constrict blood vessels, dilate the pupil and relieve spasm of the ciliary muscle;
Strix tablets are dietary supplements that improve blood supply to the retina;
drops "Taufon" - the drug contains an amino acid that has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the organs of vision.

You cannot choose medications on your own. Any means, even if they are vitamins or dietary supplements, must be recommended by a specialist.

One of the effective methods of treating myopia is physiotherapy. The procedures are carried out in a medical facility. Among them:

Electrical stimulation is the application of a low electrical current to the structure of the eyes through the eyelids. The procedure improves blood circulation and promotes the supply of nutrients.
Impact on the organs of vision with an infrared laser. This method improves microcirculation of intraocular fluid and blood circulation.
Endonasal electrophoresis. Special electrodes containing medications are inserted into the nose, and a low-intensity electric current is passed through them. In this way, medications are delivered to the back of the eyes.

The choice of treatment method depends on the degree of myopia and the general condition of the patient’s body. The most modern and effective way to eliminate myopia today is laser correction. This method is safe and has a short recovery period. Laser surgery is performed for both mild and severe myopia. In almost 100% of cases, this method guarantees complete restoration of vision. This method of vision restoration is recommended for most patients. However, it has contraindications.

Thus, laser correction is not performed in the following conditions:

visual impairment of more than -8 diopters;
retinal complications;
progressive myopia;
age under 18 years;
pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Prevention of myopia

Visual impairment can occur at any age. In the modern world, excessive fascination with gadgets often leads to a decrease in visual acuity. After working at a computer during the day, a person returns home and again picks up a tablet, phone, or watches TV. As a result, the eyes do not get rest. People who, due to the nature of their work, have to spend a long time in front of a monitor, are recommended to do eye exercises at least once a day.

The best prevention of ophthalmic diseases is the correct approach to work and rest hours. Good vision will be promoted by an active lifestyle, a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins.

How do nearsighted people see? An ophthalmologist will tell you about this. Myopia is a common eye disease, and it is getting younger every year. This disease affects both adults and children. Not everyone understands what it means for a person to have bad vision. Not everyone can imagine how nearsighted people see objects around them. What is the world like through the eyes of myopic people? The answer to this question can be found in this material.

First, a little about this disease. The term myopia refers to a vision defect or a malfunction of the eye of a pathological nature, in which the image is not on the retina, but in front of it.

In people suffering from myopia, it occurs (axial type of myopia) or the cornea has a greater refractive power, which leads to the formation of a small focal length (refractive type). It would be better to say that a myopic person sees objects close up well, but poorly sees distant objects.

The reasons for the development of the disease can be varied, the most common of them are the following:

heredity;
excessive strain on the eyes: reading in a moving vehicle or in a poorly lit room, prolonged work at the computer or close to the TV;
weakening and overstrain of the eye muscles;
birth and brain injuries.

The essence of visual impairment. With myopia, the image is processed not in the retina itself, but in front of it. Therefore, objects located in the distance that the patient sees acquire vague, blurry outlines.

The image of distant objects does not reach the retina for several reasons:

irregularity, elongation of the shape of the eyeball;
The optical system of the eye is prone to intense refraction of rays.

How do people with myopia see the world?

A myopic person sees worse without glasses, but what he sees and how the objects in question appear to him is difficult to imagine for people with normal vision. However, there are quite a lot of people suffering from myopia in the world. An interesting question is how do they see the world around them?

A peculiarity of the vision of myopic people is that a person suffering from this disease does not clearly see sharp contours: all objects appear blurry to him. A person with 100% vision, glancing at a tree, will be able to see down to individual leaves and twigs.

For him, a contour image of an object against the sky appears clearly. A nearsighted person sees a tree as a shapeless green mass with unclear, fantastic contours: small details are not visible with myopia.

There is an interesting feature of vision when a nearsighted person examines the faces of other people. A myopic person sees faces younger and more attractive than a person with normal vision. The presence of wrinkles and other defects is not visible to the nearsighted. For example, they see a reddish skin tone (natural or artificial origin) as a soft ruddy color.

The statements of friends who make mistakes when determining a person’s age with a difference of almost 20 years seem naive to us. We are amazed at their strange taste in assessing beauty. Sometimes we accuse them of discourtesy when they look straight into the face of their interlocutor and do not recognize them. The reason for this is myopia.

Not all people suffering from myopia want to wear glasses. The acquisition of this disease becomes especially traumatic in childhood: in kindergarten and school. Children suffering from this disease are afraid of being judged by their peers. They are often called offensive names. If a person suffering from myopia does not wear glasses, he risks not perceiving the full amount of information about the world around him. As a result, failure at school, university, etc.

When a nearsighted person communicates with an interlocutor, he cannot see the facial features of the person talking to him. He doesn’t see what you think; the image and contour of the interlocutor’s face remains blurry for him. And it will not be surprising that, walking down the street and looking into your eyes, a myopic person simply does not recognize you. In most cases, a myopic person recognizes people not so much by their appearance as by the sound of their voice: the visual defect is compensated by hearing acuity.

What do they see at night?

Night is a dark time of day when there is not much light. Even a person with good eyesight does not always see everything at night, so what can we say about someone with poor vision? In bright night lighting, all objects that are a source of light not only increase in size, but also grow to gigantic sizes. They resemble a chaos of shapeless blots, dark and indistinctly visible silhouettes, that is, a person sees the image as if in a fog.

Instead of the existing lines in the outline of the street lamps, myopic people see two shapeless, rather bright spots that obscure all other street objects. They do not see the approaching car itself, but instead of a car they see 2 headlights, behind which only a dark mass is visible.

Prevention

The night sky has completely different outlines for a nearsighted person. He sees only large stars in the form of a dot image. Instead of a thousand stars, myopic people see only a few hundred. Clearly visible stars appear as large lumps of light beam flow. A nearsighted person sees the moon as large and closely located; he sees the crescent moon from a fantastic, intricate perspective.

The reason for such visual illusions and the increasing size of objects is hidden in the special structure of the myopic eye. The myopic eye is so deep that the refraction of light in its parts collects the rays of external objects not in the area of the retina itself, but slightly in front of it. Only beams of rays reach the area of the retina covering the bottom of the eye, which diverge and ultimately transform into blurry and blurry images.

Video

The Military Medical Commission assigns a conscript a fitness category, paying attention to his health and vision conditions. Minor eye pathologies in a young man may not affect military service. In case of serious deviations, the young man may receive a deferment or unfit category.

“A” – the conscript is healthy and fit for military service:

“A1” – no restrictions, no serious illnesses.
“A2” – there were quite serious health problems or injuries, there is no restriction in special forces.
“A3” – restrictions due to minor problems – up to 2 diopters.

“B” – suitable with restrictions:

“B1” – service in special units, air assault troops, Air Force, Airborne Forces, border guards in federal service.
“B2” - service in the naval forces, on submarines, in tank forces.
“B3” – crew members and drivers on armored personnel carriers, on infantry fighting vehicles, on launchers (missile) installations; service in units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; chemical units and specialists for storing and refueling flammable substances, marines, airborne forces; guard units.
“B4” - service in radio engineering units (communications units), protection of missile systems, part of the RF Armed Forces.

“B” – limited use. The young man is not called up for service, but is listed in the reserves. In the event of hostilities, he will be called up in the second order.

“G” – temporarily unsuitable. Deferment from the army due to vision is given if the young man has had acute illnesses, surgical interventions or serious injuries. It is given from six months to 12 months, until the age of non-conscription or until the condition of vision improves, for example, after correction. It is possible that after several delays the category “B” will be assigned.

“D” – not suitable. When hostilities occur, a person with this category is not taken into account. The conscript immediately receives a military ID with a note of military unfitness.

What diseases are exempt from military service?

The conscript is temporarily exempt from military service until his visual function improves, or may not be conscripted at all if his vision cannot be corrected. What kind of vision is not allowed into the army? For myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism, there are different indications of limitation and unsuitability, depending on the degree of the disease and a category is assigned.

For myopia

Myopia (myopia) - this diagnosis is given to people who have difficulty seeing objects located in the distance. If a conscript has minus 4 vision, will he be accepted into the army? Such vision is not a reason to assign category “B” or “D” - the young man is fit for service.

A grade from the army in terms of vision can be obtained for myopia, if there is myopia in at least one eye over 6 diopters (average degree of myopia) - category “B” is given, and over 12 diopters (high degree of myopia) - “D”. More about myopia →

For farsightedness

Farsightedness (hypermetropia) is a pathology in which a person cannot see objects that are nearby. They will not be hired if a young man has moderate or high hyperopia in at least one eye. With an average degree of farsightedness (more than 8 diopters), category “B” is given, and with a high degree of farsightedness (over 12 diopters), category “D” is assigned. Read more about farsightedness →

For astigmatism

Astigmatism is a disease in which a person is unable to focus on an object due to the irregular shape of the lens of the eye. If astigmatism (at least in one eye) is more than 4 diopters, then the person receives category “B”, more than 6 diopters – “D”, that is, he is considered unfit for military service. Read more about astigmatism →

Visual acuity and fitness for duty

An important factor in determining eye health is visual acuity. Under normal conditions, its indicator is 1.0, which means that a person is able to see 2 points located nearby at a distance. If there is a deviation from the norm, the indicators can vary from 0.9 to 0.1. Determined using the Snellen chart, which is available in any ophthalmologist's office. If, with acuity different from the norm, your vision meets the necessary requirements when wearing glasses or contact lenses, then you are fit for conscription.

"D" is assigned if:

acuity in one eye is 0.09 (less than 0.09 or blindness of the eye), and in the other 0.3 or less;
acuity in both eyes is 0.2 or less;
the absence of an eyeball in one eye, and the other has an acuity of 0.3 or less.

"B" is assigned if:

the acuity of one eye is 0.09 (less than 0.09 or blindness of the eye), and the other is 0.4 or more;
the acuity of one eye is 0.3-0.4, the other 0.3-0.1;
absence of the eyeball in one eye, and in the other the acuity is 0.4 or more.

What other eye diseases prevent you from joining the army?

Eye diseases for which a conscript is assigned category “D”:

Blindness.
Glaucoma.
Aphakia and pseudophakia.
Foreign body inside the eye.
Persistent lagophthalmos.
Strabismus in the absence of binocular vision.
Tapetoretinal abiotrophies.
Optic nerve atrophy.
Retinal detachment or rupture.
Severe eyelid pathology is fusion, inversion and eversion of the eyelids.
Diseases of the lacrimal ducts.
Chronic conjunctivitis.
Ulcerative blepharitis.

You can be excluded from the army due to your vision if you have injuries or burns to the sclera, iris, ciliary body, cornea, lens, vitreous body, retina, or optic nerve.

Why is good vision important for military service?

The conscript must see well, because people with myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism have restrictions on physical activity. If young people with serious eye problems were taken into the army, this could lead to blindness and disability. It is also important for guard duty - a private must always be on alert (at any time of the day or night), when passing standards when shooting, etc.

Do they take you into the army after vision correction?

Some jobs require military service, such as law enforcement. And whether someone with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism will be accepted into the army is a matter of future career for many. That's why many people undergo corrective surgery.

But will they be accepted into the army after vision correction? If you initially had category “D” - unfit, then after correction you must undergo a medical re-examination. Upon successful completion, a new category “A” is assigned – suitable or “B” – limitedly suitable, can serve. If you want to be accepted into the army, corrective surgery will help.

It is believed that after operations to restore vision, the eyes become more vulnerable, so it is necessary to monitor physical activity and try not to overstrain the eyes and avoid injuries.

If a young man receives a deferment from military service, then after 6–12 months, in case of pathologies or after eye surgery, he will have to undergo a second medical examination before conscription to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Those conscripts who are wondering how to avoid the army if they have vision problems can be advised to see an ophthalmologist to establish an accurate diagnosis and obtain the necessary documents, which can later be submitted to the commission. In case of serious illnesses, the young man will not serve; in case of milder forms of illness, the doctor may indicate restrictions on service.

Useful video about deferment from the army due to vision

How to live with poor eyesight?

Of course, life goes on after vision loss, and the diagnosis is not a death sentence. The question is what is this life like, what is its quality and how to set yourself up for the best.

What does "poor vision" mean?

Basically, this phrase refers to a significant deterioration in vision that cannot be fully corrected by glasses, contact lenses, medications or surgery. The phrase is used to describe such conditions:

Best corrected visual acuity is reduced to less than 20/70 (Snellen) in the better eye.
Significantly narrowed visual fields, such as tunnel vision (lack of peripheral vision) or blind spots.
Field of view 20 degrees or less.
Almost complete blindness (photosensitivity).

Every year in Russia about 50,000 people become visually disabled.

Causes of poor vision

The following are eye diseases that lead to decreased vision:

Cataracts lead to blurred vision, so-called. a veil of fog before my eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy causes blurred and distorted images.
Poor peripheral vision is a hallmark of glaucoma.
Blurred or partially absent central vision is typical of macular degeneration.
Retinitis pigmentosa reduces peripheral vision and the ability to see in the dark.
Increased sensitivity to light and loss of contrast are additional symptoms of these and other diseases.
Heredity and eye injuries can also lead to poor vision.

The impact of poor vision on human life

Children as well as adults may be visually impaired due to a birth defect or injury. Children with low vision may have learning problems and therefore need special teaching from an early age. They also need additional help socializing with other children and adults.

Poor vision is still more common among adults and older people. Loss of vision for them can become a psychological trauma, leading to disappointment and depression. Lack of the ability to safely drive a vehicle, read quickly, watch TV, or use a computer can make people with low vision feel disconnected from the world. They may be unable to get around the city on their own or buy food and other necessities.

Needless to say, many people with poor vision have difficulty finding a job.

Some people with vision problems become very dependent on friends and family, while others suffer alone. This is not correct as there are many devices available today that can help people with low vision live a decent life.

What to do if you have low vision

If you have vision impairment that interferes with your daily activities and you are unable to enjoy life, your first step is to see a professional for a complete eye examination.

Decreased vision that is not corrected with glasses or contact lenses may be the first sign of a serious eye disease such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa. Or it may mean that you are developing cataracts that need to be surgically removed. Either way, it's wise to take action before your vision deteriorates further.

If your eye doctor believes that you have vision loss that cannot be adequately corrected by glasses, medications, or surgery, he or she will help you take the first steps to combat the situation.

The specialist will assess the degree and type of vision loss, recommend assistive devices and explain how to use them. Examples include lighted pocket magnifiers, desktop digital magnifiers, and telescopic glasses.

New accessories include pocket-sized digital magnifiers for shopping or dining in public places, as well as software that makes computer use easier (font enlargement and speech function).

Low vision specialists may also recommend non-optical adaptive devices, such as large print printed materials, audio recordings, lighting equipment, and special signing devices.

Tinted glasses with UV filters will help with increased light sensitivity. If necessary, your ophthalmologist may refer you to a mental health specialist or exercise coach to help you cope with your vision loss.

Is it possible to be drafted into the army if you have vision problems?

Many young conscripts are very interested in the question: with what vision are they not accepted into the army? If previously almost any deviation from normal vision became a valid reason for removing a future soldier from service, now the conditions have changed. Many young people now have an open path to certain types of troops, even if they have a problem with the visual function of their eyes.

Simplification of rules

An extremely interesting question: will it be possible to disqualify from the army due to vision? In recent years - 2015 and 2016, the draft commission has become much less picky in choosing young conscripts. Due to the fact that the number of guys with vision problems has sharply increased, the standards according to which the suitability of a future conscript for military service is determined have also changed. Now, in order to have a full-fledged “slope” from the army precisely because of poor vision, you need a serious diagnosis, which greatly affects the functionality of the eyes. Otherwise, there is a very high chance that with minor problems with vision, a young soldier will be sent to a military unit where this parameter is not so critical.
In 2017, several more changes were made and now many guys are assigned to the troops according to the “categories” of fitness, even if they have some problems and wear glasses. In most cases, a young fighter is prescribed minor restrictions on physical activity, which can have a detrimental effect on his health.
In other words, many can now serve. But there is an unobvious exception to this rule. In sparsely populated areas, where the number of people for conscription is extremely small, the rules are fully observed, but where there are queues for a place in the army, even a slight deviation will become an exemption from service.

Formed recruitment categories and small distribution rules

Now let’s talk about what indicators are not taken into the army, and what indicators are very likely to get there. Now there are five categories, one of which a conscript may fall into when passing a medical examination:

Suitable without restrictions - A. This includes completely healthy young people.
Passable, but with some restrictions - B. This category includes conscripts with minor vision problems.
Fit for service in certain military units - B. This category includes those whose refractive error is within the normal range.
Temporarily unfit for service - G. This category is assigned extremely rarely and most often due to the active phase of diseases that are usually associated with one or another organ, including the eyes.
Unfit for service - D. If you have lenses of 6 diopters or more, you cannot be drafted into the army.

Category A includes even those diagnosed with myopia or farsightedness. Also, minor anomalies in the eye area are not a valid reason for removing a conscript from service.
What about categories B and C? These include those with more complex diagnoses - astigmatism, or other pathologies of the retina or cornea. If the initial form of the disease, which has minimal impact on visual function, is category B, if the developed form is category B.
In case of exacerbations of any disease, category G is awarded. Sometimes surgery may be a reason for delay. If after treatment procedures vision deteriorates, then the likelihood of a positive response from the commission is very low.
People with poor eyesight are recruited into the army, even if they have some pathologies. But, if you are nearsighted and need a lens with 6 diopters or more, or farsightedness with 8 diopters, then this is an official “white ticket”. With such indicators, the conscript is not suitable.

Diseases that the commission misses

It is necessary to clarify a few more diagnoses that the commission will most likely miss. At this point, the question of whether people with poor eyesight are accepted into the army disappears as such.
Let's start with the most common problems - myopia and farsightedness. To receive any “fit” category (A, B, C), it is enough that the conscript clearly sees objects at close range.
Chronic conjunctivitis is rarely missed by a doctor. Usually, soldiers with such diagnoses are assigned to a military unit with lengthy recommendations regarding the conduct of their service, but they are still admitted. In advanced stages, such a diagnosis becomes one of the options for obtaining a “white ticket”.
As absurd as it may sound, conscripts with glaucoma are also allowed through. If this diagnosis is confirmed for only one eye, the soldier will be assigned to a unit for service. Glaucoma in both eyes is required to be exempt from duty.

Astigmatism of all forms, as long as the conscript is able to distinguish objects at a certain distance. Just like with the previous diagnosis, one eye is not scary, it’s good, two eyes too, as long as you can see at least something in front of you.
To obtain an exemption, you will need to obtain official confirmation from an ophthalmologist who will confirm that the disease or abnormality does significantly affect the condition of the conscript and limit his capabilities.

What does a “white ticket” guarantee?

Whether they will take you into the army is no longer the right question; you need to know with what diagnosis they will take you. There is a small list of eye problems due to which conscripts are not allowed to serve, namely:

Any disease or anomaly in the acute stage. That is, if active degradation of the tissue of the retina, cornea, or something like that has begun, then this is not only a delay, but, most likely, a complete exemption from service. Physician confirmation required.
Blindness and color blindness. Yes, but with such diagnoses 100% will not be called up.
Any types of severe eye diseases that affect a person’s visual function. There are no options here, it’s not even worth discussing.

Conclusion on the topic

Due to the fact that many conscripts have vision problems, the selection criteria for young fighters have been greatly simplified. An army with indicators of minus 5 is guaranteed, although not in a combat unit, but they will be sent to service. Perhaps some more changes will be introduced later, but for now these are the rules that apply. To confirm the diagnosis, you will need an examination by a regional ophthalmologist, or any other at the discretion of the commission.
If previously poor eyesight was a valid reason for exemption from service, now a fighter is fit, maybe not for combat and special operations, but fit as long as he sees at least something in front of him.

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How does a nearsighted person see? What's going on with his eyes? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article. Myopia is a dangerous visual disorder that people knew about as early as the fourth century BC. Aristotle himself called this anomaly “myopia,” which translated from Greek means “squinting.” How a myopic person sees is described in the article.

Myopia

Few people know how a nearsighted person sees. When myopia occurs, the individual begins to have difficulty distinguishing between various objects placed further than at arm's length. According to medical statistics, myopia is a particularly common disease among patients over 10 years of age. The number of such people is growing every year.

As a rule, myopia begins to progress from 7 to 13 years of age and can remain at the last level or develop further, worsening a person’s vision more and more every year.

Causes

Don't you know how myopic people see? The photo presented in the article demonstrates the abilities of their visual system.

Myopia occurs due to the following reasons:

Hereditary predisposition.
An active period of growth, causing a sharp stretching of the fundus muscles.
Head injuries received during childbirth.
Excessive workload at school.
Spending long periods of time in front of the TV, computer, tablet, smartphone.
Long periods of reading books without good lighting.

What's happening to the eyes?

Many people ask the question: “How does a nearsighted person see?” It is known that a healthy individual with 100% vision is very rare. After all, due to various factors, almost all people’s vision is slightly impaired.

How does a healthy person see objects? The rays reflected from them pass through the optical structure of the eye and focus the image on the retina. With myopia, the rays are focused in front of the retina, so the image reaches it in a blurred form. This only happens when a person with visual impairment looks into the distance. As a result, it allows parallel rays of light to hit the retina.

It is important to know that the rays emanating from objects placed close are not parallel, but slightly diverge from each other. This nuance allows a nearsighted person to see them better. After all, after refraction, the image appears precisely on the retina of the eye. Now you know why people with myopia have poor distance vision and good near vision.

Distorted image

Usually the distorted image does not reach the retina or appears on it in an unnatural form due to:

Disorders of the optical structure of the eye, which leads to excessive refraction of rays.
Transformations in the shape of the eyeball (with myopia, the muscles of the fundus of the eye relax, causing the eye to become longer).

It should be noted that sometimes one individual has both versions of the visual disorder.

What do they see?

So how do nearsighted people see the world? This question is not easy to answer. Imagine that you cannot concentrate on an object and see it blurry, noticing only its outlines. A similar effect can be compared to setting the camera on a smartphone. After all, at this moment, at first the picture turns out to be soapy or cloudy. Also, when watching a film, the character in the foreground is clearly visible, but the background is blurred, and the viewer can only discern the silhouettes of objects located behind the character.

This is exactly how myopic people see the world around them without the use of glasses. Well, if the patient puts on glasses prescribed by his doctor, he will improve his vision and be able to see everything around him in its natural form.

This effect is achieved using optical lenses placed in the frame. They transmit light rays through themselves in the correct form. As a result, the resulting image appears directly on the retina.

In addition, optical lenses cause the eye muscles to tense, which is why the patient begins to see better. Don't want to suffer from vision loss? Follow the basic rules for preserving it and contact your ophthalmologist on time.

Vision minus 2

Let's find out how a myopic person sees at minus 2. In reality, people with this degree of myopia do not experience significant discomfort. A person can easily see objects placed 1.5 m away from him. He can also easily distinguish the contours of objects located a little further away. With the indicated acuity, the degree of myopia is considered weak.

A person can write and read, work at a computer, and navigate in space without using glasses. True, such myopia is accompanied by blurriness of objects placed far away, a feeling of tension in the eye muscles, and headaches.

If you experience these symptoms, immediately visit an ophthalmologist. An experienced doctor will examine you, ruling out the development of various parallel pathological processes.

A decrease in vision to minus two occurs for the following reasons:

weakness of scleral tissue;
genetic predisposition;
eye-strain;
mechanical eye damage;
weakness of accommodation;
violation of visual hygiene.

Often myopia is caused by a lack of vitamins or pathologies of the vascular system.

Today, vision minus 2 is increasingly common among adolescents. This is caused by spending a long time on the PC. Very often in such cases deceitful myopia develops. To restore visual function, it is enough to perform specific exercises and follow a rest regime.

Vision minus 3

How does a myopic person see at minus 3? With such vision, weak myopia is usually diagnosed. This violation is caused by the creation of a picture by the visual optical system not on the retina, but in front of it (as we discussed above). Therefore, any distant objects appear blurry to a person.

Doctors say that the more advanced the form of myopia, the worse the visibility. This can happen due to a number of reasons. Typically, minus 3 vision occurs due to muscle weakening. Today, experts distinguish several degrees of myopia:

Weak - down to minus three.
Average - up to minus six.
High - reaches minus 20.

In the first case, the membranes of the eyeball are stretched and thinned. This process negatively affects the vessels that feed the corresponding structures. Microcirculation inside the organ is disrupted.

It should be understood that vision minus three is not a death sentence. Today, ophthalmologists use laser, optical, drug therapy or functional hardware therapy to successfully get rid of myopia. This well-known ophthalmological abnormality can occur at any age. It is important to go to the clinic in time and start treatment.

Vision minus 5

How does a myopic person see at minus 5? Let us remember that this is an average degree of myopia. At minus five, a person sees everything that is located at a distance of ten meters from him, as if in a fog, unclearly. He weakly sees the size and color of objects and detects that they are moving.

Often an individual with such vision does not recognize acquaintances at a distance because he cannot see their facial features. Recognition occurs, rather, by voice. This is why people with visual impairments usually have worse hearing. It should be noted that two people who have an identical visual diagnosis (for example, myopia -5) may not see the same way. One more clearly captures the shape and size of an object at a distance, the other - shades of color.

The answer to the question “How does a myopic person see at minus 4?” in this case is identical. After all, this indicator also refers to the average degree of myopia.

To correct an ophthalmic disorder, diverging lenses or glasses are needed. Such devices transfer images of objects directly to the retina, as it should be with

By the way, at a short distance (30 cm from the eyes), myopic people can embroider, read, and knit without glasses. But here it is important to avoid prolonged muscle strain.

Aiman ​​Zhusupova. Vision - minus 7