A Great List of Low Vision Resources

low vision

photo provided by Duncan

For some, struggling with low vision is a battle that they’ve been fighting their whole lives. For others, poor vision is a new and intimidating experience. No matter where you are, the best resources you have available is knowledge and support that you can find from others.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of trusted resources. Make sure to visit these sites to see what can kind of help they can offer you.

  • AMDF: The American Macular Degeneration Foundation – Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and age-induced loss of vision in adults who are 50 or older. To spread the word about macular degeneration and to bring together those who are affected by the disease, the American Macular Degeneration Foundation conducts research completely funded by donations as it is a non-profit organization.
  • National Federation for the Blind – With a goal of completely assimilating the blind into the community at large, the National Federation for the Blind is a great resource for those looking to learn more about the blind and how they interact with the public. It was founded in 1940 and has grown to over 50,000 today, making it the largest organization for the blind in the United States.
  • Olmsted Center for Sight – Located in the midtown neighborhood of Buffalo, the Olmstead Center for Sight has been providing low vision services for those with poor vision and blindness in our community since 1907. They recently opened the Statler Center, which is also located in midtown and serves the purpose of training the blind and those with low vision for jobs in the hospitality industry. Visit their website to learn more about what the Olmstead Center does for our local low vision community and how you can get involved.
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for Western New York: VIST – The Visually Impaired Services Team or VIST, is a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the Western District of New York. They provide a multitude of services to veterans living in the Buffalo area who are suffering from low vision. A great resource for those looking to learn more about low vision products, VIST also sponsors a monthly support group and can point you to other organizations in your area, that provide benefits and services for the blind and visually impaired.
  • New York’s Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped – CBVH or the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped was established in 1913 and continues to provide services like vocational training to New York’s visually impaired.  They have seven district offices, including one in Buffalo, and maintain a great list of non-profit organizations that assist the visually impaired across the state.
  • The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) – located in Rochester, the ABVI believes the sky truly is the limit for what people who are blind or visually impaired can accomplish. We invite you to learn more about our comprehensive vision services and unique “business with a mission” approach. Together, we’ll see great things. 
  • Enhanced Vision – Enhanced Vision is a leading developer of assistive technology for the visually impaired including Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Retinitis Pigementosa and Diabetic Retinopathy. Low vision assistive technology enables people to read, write and fully participate in life.