Vision and Eye Health

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What is Vision Loss?

Vision loss means that a person's eyesight is not corrected to a "normal" level. 

What can you do to keep your vision and eyes healthy? The answer: get an eye exam. This video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) makes the case for annual eye exams. 

As adults age, many will develop eye diseases that could become debilitating if not treated in time. But people can protect themselves by having eye exams that can spot early and often hidden signs of eye disease. Find out how the AAO recommends that you care for your eyes.

Eye Health

Visual impairments and eye health can have a significant effect on the lives of Nebraskans. Some common medical conditions that can lead to visual impairments are: cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to have a visual impairment? The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio created the Impairment Simulator to show what it is like to live with different eye diseases. The Simulator depicts several of the most common vision impairments, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Glimpse the world through different eyes as you view a face, street signs, landscapes and other images.​​

Vision Loss and Children​

Vision loss can vary greatly among children and can be caused by many things. Learn more about vision loss in children.

Vision Impairment in Nebraska

• 56 percent of Nebraskans with vision impairment reported excellent, very good, or good health (BRFSS); 44 percent reported fair or poor health
• 18 percent of Nebraskans with vision impairment were delayed getting needed medical care due to lack of transportation, compared to 2 percent without visual impairment.
• 49 percent of Nebraskans with vision impairment have another chronic health condition such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus or fibromyalgia
• 54 percent of Nebraskans who are visually impaired reported smoking every day or some days.

Nebraska Resources:

There are lots of resources in Nebraska for individuals affected by visual impairment. Many offer financial assistance, as well as social and rehabilitation assistance. The goal of these organizations is to better the quality of life for those impacted by visual impairment. A selection of agencies is listed below: