Here’s another awareness observance for you to add to your already packed cause calendar. February is low vision awareness month, also AMD awareness month. The letters AMD stand for age-related macular degeneration, sometimes also shortened as ARMD.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of age-related blindness in the United States. There are variations of the disease, referred to as either “wet” or “dry” macular degeneration, depending upon the symptoms, severity and rapidity of onset that characterizes each type. The person most likely to experience AMD is a person over the age of 65. Generally, macular degeneration is considered to be a complication of aging, although ugh the direct cause is unknown. Vision loss is usually characterized by a blurring or obscuring of the central vision, due to a breakdown of the retinal cells in the macula, or center-most portion of the retina. Over time, a person can experience profound vision loss, preventing them from reading, identifying objects or faces and forcing them to give up the car keys.
The term “low vision” usually refers to the range of visual perception that can be measured between the point at which a person is diagnosed as legally blind, and totally blind. If a person is correctable to better than 20/200 with glasses or contact lenses, they are generally not said to have low vision. Often individuals with low vision use other types of devices to enhance their visual acuity, including binocular or monocular type devices, CCTV magnifiers, text-to-speech and other technologies. Once a person reaches this level of vision loss, their regular eye doctor will likely refer a patient to a low vision specialist to determine the best devices available to maximize remaining vision.
What can you do to help someone with low vision? I’ve written a tips booklet that may help. You’ll find it at Accessible Insights, on the library page:
accessibleinsights.info/library.html/
“81 Bits of Insight into Coping with Vision Loss” is an information-packed little booklet for families and caregivers alike who need to know the best ways to interact, communicate and cope with a friend or loved one struggling with vision loss. You’ll discover some practical ways to organize, accommodate and assist while always showing respect and preserving a person’s dignity.
For more great information on vision loss, including articles and products for greater independent living, go to:
Eloquent Insights www.eloquentinsights.com
Accessible Insights www.accessibleinsights.info
Need someone to help navigate? You can write me directly at accessible.info (AT) accessibleinsights (DOT) info.
Or, just go to any of the Legendary Insights web pages and click contact.
Living with low vision does not mean living a lesser life. Educate yourself and you will be amazed at the innumerable products and services that can open up the entire world to you, as well as enable you to accomplish tasks you never dreamed possible. Don’t just be aware…achieve.
LL