special care: Sensory Impairment Flashcards
Define sensory impairment
When one or more sense is no longer functioning as normal - doesn’t have to be a full loss
Define a mild distance vision impairment.
presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12
Define a moderate distance vision impairment.
presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18
Define a severe distance vision impairment.
presenting visual acuity worse than 6/60
Define blindness in terms of distance vision impairment.
presenting visual acuity worse than 3/30
What is cataract?
Clouding of the lens which leads to decreased vision
What occurs in age related macular degeneration?
there is a circulatory insufficiency
this causes degenerative lesions developing from photoreceptor cells becoming damaged and scarred
= loss in the central field if vision
What are the two types of macular degeneration, which is the mist common?
Wet - severe loss within months
Dry - gradual loss (common)
What causes glaucoma?
Fluid accumulation in the front of the eye which increases the intraocular pressure
What are the two types of glaucoma?
primary open angle - gradual blockage of the drainage channels within the eye
angle closure - rapid blockage of the drainage channels within the eye
What causes diabetic retinopathy.
High blood sugars cause the vasculature supplying the retina to become leaky/blocked.
Describe the stages of disease in diabetic retinopathy.
background retinopathy = bulges develop in BV, some burst and bleed.
pre-proliferative retinopathy = more severe changes to BV and more bleeding
proliferative retinopathy = scar tissue and new weak BV form on the retina causing vision loss
What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?
Duration of diabetes High blood sugars Pregnancy levels of selected serum lipids genetic factors
What is hemianopia?
Blindness in one half of the visual field
What commonly causes hemianopia?
stroke