Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
70 results found in low vision.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs, Daily Living Activities, ADL)
- Routine tasks that people perform every day for self-care and independent functioning, including reading, cooking, grooming, dressing, and managing household items. For people with low vision, perform…
- Assistive Device (Assistive Aid, Low-Vision Aid)
- Any device, tool, or technology that helps a person with a disability perform tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. In low-vision contexts, assistive devices range from optical aids (…
- Brightness Contrast (Luminance Contrast, Perceived Brightness Difference)
- The difference in perceived brightness between two colors, typically between text and its background. Brightness contrast is a key factor in readability, especially for people with low vision, color v…
- Cataracts (Cataract)
- A clouding of the eye's natural lens that causes blurry or hazy vision and increased sensitivity to glare. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision impairment worldwide and become increasingly common…
- Central Vision Loss (Central Field Loss, Central Scotoma)
- Loss of vision in the central part of the visual field, typically caused by damage to the macula — the area of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. People with central vision loss experi…
- Central Vision Loss (Central Scotoma, Macular Vision Loss)
- Loss of vision in the central part of the visual field, typically caused by conditions affecting the macula such as macular degeneration or Stargardt disease. Central vision is responsible for detaile…
- Color Blindness (Color Vision Deficiency, CVD, Colour Blindness)
- A condition in which the ability to distinguish certain colors is reduced or absent, most commonly affecting the perception of red and green. Color blindness affects approximately 8% of males and 0.5%…
- Contrast Sensitivity
- The ability to distinguish between objects and their background based on differences in luminance or color. Contrast sensitivity is distinct from visual acuity and can be reduced even when acuity is r…
- Depth Perception (Stereopsis)
- The visual ability to perceive the relative distance of objects in three-dimensional space. Depth perception relies on binocular vision and other visual cues. Reduced depth perception can affect a per…
- Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
- A complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels of the retina, potentially causing vision loss ranging from mild blurriness to complete blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can produce scattered …
- E-Ink Display (Electronic Ink, E-Paper, Electronic Paper Display)
- A display technology that mimics the appearance of ink on paper by using electrically charged particles to create images. E-ink displays are characterized by high readability in direct light, minimal …
- Eccentric Viewing (Eccentric Fixation)
- A visual strategy used by people with central vision loss (such as from macular degeneration) in which they learn to use a peripheral area of the retina — called a preferred retinal locus (PRL) — to l…
- Eccentric viewing (Preferred retinal locus, PRL)
- A viewing strategy used by people with central vision loss (such as from macular degeneration) in which they learn to look slightly off-center to use a healthier area of the retina instead of the dama…
- Edge enhancement (Edge detection, Contour enhancement)
- An image processing technique that identifies and highlights the boundaries between objects in a visual scene, typically rendering them as bright lines against a dark background or overlaying them on …
- Field of View (FoV, Viewing Angle)
- The angular extent of the observable world visible at any given moment. In the context of head-mounted displays like the HoloLens 2, the field of view refers to the area in which virtual content can b…
- Functional Vision (Functional Visual Ability)
- How well a person uses their residual vision to perform routine tasks under various conditions throughout the day. Functional vision goes beyond clinical measures like visual acuity to assess practica…
- Gaze Tracking (Eye Tracking, Eye Gaze Tracking)
- Technology that measures and records eye movements to determine where a person is looking, for how long, and in what pattern. In low-vision research and rehabilitation, gaze tracking can reveal visual…
- Glare (Visual Glare)
- Excessive brightness or reflections from surfaces or light sources that cause visual discomfort, reduce visibility, or impair the ability to see clearly. Glare is a significant accessibility barrier f…
- Glaucoma
- A group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually caused by abnormally high intraocular pressure. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting over 80 mill…
- Glaucoma
- A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, typically associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It usually causes gradu…