Low Vision Flashcards
uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of what?
visual impairment
What is the leading cause of blindness of middle and low-income countries?
cataracts
Leading causes of visual impairment?
age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma
low vision is reduced vision and not…
correctable by glasses, contacts, medicine, or surgery
Visual disorder
any disease or pathology that doesn’t necessarily affect a person’s function
Visual Impairment
functional loss that results from a visual disorder
Reduced visual acuity, constricted peripheral field, contrast sensitivity loss, photophobia, central vision loss
Visual Disability
Limitations in a person’s skills & abilities
Inability to: read, write, drive, self-care, travel, managing finances, seeing people’s faces, preparing meals, etc.
Visual Handicap
Psychosocial and economic consequences of vision loss; as well as environmental barriers
Loss of independence or inability to work or social isolation or no street crosswalk or no wheelchair accessible restrooms
Legal Blindness
Best corrected visual acuity 20/200 or worse in the better eye (using Snellen acuity charts) or Peripheral Vision less than 20 degrees in the better eye
Low Vision (not blindness)
Best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 to LP
Less than 20 degrees of peripheral field
Who uses, or is potentially able to use, vision for the planning and/or execution of a task
Blindness is having NO usable vision at all…. AKA
No Light Perception
Vision loss and visual impairment is a CONTINUUM which means that…
there is any type or degree of change in vision
Is legal blindness is the same as complete blindness?
NO
Legal blindness is an impairment that affects which eye?
BOTH
Legal Blindness is never…
1 eye
Legal blindness is an impairment with _____ correction
BEST. Glasses or contacts
How does someone become visually impaired?
congenital, genetic, or acquired conditions
Congenital Conditions
Generally develop in children: include Prenatal, perinatal, postnatal injuries or infections, premature birth, optic nerve damage, etc.
Genetic Conditions
Generally develop in younger people: Examples include tumors, Stargardt disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Oculocutaneous Albinism, Aniridia, etc.
Acquired Conditions
Generally develop in older people: hemianopias, traumatic brain injuries, Age related macular degeneration, Cataracts, Diabetic retinopathy, etc.
Falls in elderly
visually impaired more at risk
Risk factors for falls
medications (4 or more medications polypharmacy)
sedatives, hypnotics, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and anti-arrhythmics
muscle weakness
age
disease
prior fall
visual impairment
Working age adults (18-65) are …
more frequently admitted to hospitals
experienced more in-patient psychiatric care
mortality rate is 7x greater
Low Vision Rehabilitation
Helping patients use their remaining vision and other senses effectively and efficiently by modifying activities that have become difficult due to vision loss
