Low Vision and Its Effects on the Patient and Family.
I am Visually Impaired. I am also a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and writer. If you know a Visually Impaired person, here is how you can help.
Low Vision and Blindness
Low Vision is a problem that affects millions of Americans. It can be caused by a number of factors, including age and disease. Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma get an awful lot of exposure to the public via media campaigns. These are only two causes of low vision and blindness.
Low Vision and Blindness can result from head trauma, stroke, cataract, Ocular Inflammatory Diseases, of which there are over one hundred different varieties, as a symptom of other disease in the system, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Colitis, untreated Dry Eye Syndrome, also known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or Sicca. It can easily be seen by the reader here that Low Vision and Blindness are much more complicated and common than is generally believed by the public.
Visual Aids
Sometimes such visual aids as magnifiers, Closed Circuit TV's, which magnify things up to 22 times their normal size, talking watches, and a host of other simple things can restore a feeling of independence. Sometimes, there is very little help to be had, depending on the degree of vision lost and the patient's own circumstances.
None of us who cope with Low Vision or even Blindness asked for our circumstances. None of us would wish our circumstances on others. We accept what is, and we cope as best we can with what we have, while, hopefully, still striving for something to improve our vision and our circumstances.
Blindness Vs. Low Vision
To be considered Legally Blind in the United States, one must have a corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye. To have Low Vision means that both eyes may be corrected to 20/200, or the visual field must be severely compromised. As an example for the person who sees well, 20/200 vision means that if the person with such low vision stands next to a person with 20/20 vision, and they are exactly 20 feet from any object, say a car or tree, the person with 20/200 vision sees the object the way a person with 20/20 vision would see the object if they were standing 200 feet away.
How You Can Help
This can make life quite difficult for the patient. Objects become difficult to identify, sometimes impossible. The patient may be able to do basic activities of daily living, such as washing and shaving and dressing, but need help finding all the toiletries needed to be fit to go out into public. They may need you to cut their finger and toenails for them because they are too difficult to see. They may be a perfectly good cook, but need you to read directions in a recipe and help them set the dials on the oven or microwave.
The person with Low Vision may feel too embarrassed to ask you to help, but may also gladly take the offer to do a specific thing, such as driving them to an appointment or taking them shopping. If you have the extra time and feel you want to help the person you know who has one of these conditions, it is perfectly acceptable to call them up or instant message them and offer your assistance. The Age of Computers has been a godsend to many who have Low Vision or are Blind. There is voice recognition software, magnification functions that are built into operating systems, and many other things that help us stay connected to the world around us. Formerly, staying connected to the world was much more difficult, because just getting out of your own home or yard can be a challenge for the person who has Low or No Vision. Calling your friend or other loved one and offering assistance, or just stopping by can really make the patient feel much more connected, and not forgotten in the fast-paced world we all live in. The patient with Low Vision must slow down and take their time when searching for items in a store. Offer to read aisle markers in the stores, offer to find items on a shelf, and read labels, if needed.
Make sure before your friend or other loved one with Low or no Vision comes for a visit that there are clear pathways and walkways to important areas of your home. We can't see things like coffee tables and laundry baskets full of ironing (or cats). If you rearrange the furniture, orient us to the room.
Inclusion in Group Settings
Don't feel as if poor vision is an elephant in the room. The patient with poor vision many need to be led to the campfire or other meeting-place when at a party. This patient also is often reluctant to call attention to themselves by standing still and yelling for someone like a little lost lamb. If you are unsure how much your loved one can see, ask. If you aren't sure, or are uncomfortable asking, offer to include the person. Human social and emotional needs do not go away or increase because of a disability like this. Patients with poor vision still need and deserve to be included in the group as an individual. Orientate them to their surroundings and company.
