What is the difference between blindness and low vision?

The word "blindness" means "unable to see." It is an emotionally charged word that does not differentiate the spectrum of vision problems between "can't tell night from day" to "needs glasses." It should probably not be used anymore, but has such a historical pedigree this won't happen. For that reason, "blind" is almost never used in Ophthalmology or Optometry circles. It has largely been replaced by "low vision." This better term suggests that the visual impairment is severe, not correctable with lenses, but retains at least some degree of useful vision that can often be enhanced with modern technology, i.e. computer enlargement of scanned books or magazines.

_Written by J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D. - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic