Causes of Visual Impairment There are several potential causes of vision loss or visual disability. Some of the most common include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe vision loss in Americans aged 60 and older. It damages the macula, which is the part of the...