Visual Disability in the Elderly: Implications for Visual Rehabilitation

Author(s):  
Robert W. Massof ◽  
Maureen G. Maguire ◽  
Duane R. Geruschat ◽  
James T. Deremeik ◽  
Judith E. Goldstein ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Dr. Vidhyasri M ◽  
Dr. S. M. Pasha

Introduction: This is the case report of child who was diagnosed with LCA reported with complaints of large-amplitude, slow-frequency, roving nystagmus, frequent tendency to press on his eyes, enopthalmos, with completely normal ophthalmoscopic examination with normal appearing optic nerve and retina and has a non recordable ERG; considering this condition under the lines of Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi treatment was structured to render effective visual rehabilitation which showed marked results. Methods: 4 years old male child who was diagnosed with lebers congenital amaurosis was brought by his parents to Eye OPD, GAMC, Bengaluru. The presentation of this case includes bibliographic review of the subject, presentation of a clinical case and description of the importance of Ayurvedic prespective of handling of these patients. Results: The child showed improvement in fixing for light and also nystagmus showed marked improvement and there were considerable behavioural changes observed. Discussion: It is important to deepen the environment of the disease to know the possible implications in Ayurvedic management, recognize the magnitude of visual disability that our patient presents for the establishment of the treatment plan and provide an integral care of excellence in an interdisciplinary way in favor of visual rehabilitation of our patients and also help to restore quality of life with no potential risks of side effects.


Insight ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Ross

2004 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keila Monteiro de Carvalho ◽  
Gelse Beatriz Martins Monteiro ◽  
Cassiano Rodrigues Isaac ◽  
Lineu Oto Shiroma ◽  
Marcela Scabello Amaral

PURPOSE: To determine the causes of low vision in an elderly population attended by a university visual rehabilitation service and to check for the use of prescribed optical aids. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients aged 60 years or over attending for the first time a university low vision service in 2001. Ophthalmic reevaluation and interview were performed by means of a structured questionnaire in 2002. RESULTS: The sample comprised 50 subjects aged between 60 and 90 years. Severe low vision (<FONT FACE=Symbol><</FONT>20/200) was present in 68.0% of patients. The main cause of low vision was age-related macular degeneration (44.0%). Regarding literacy, 16.0% were illiterate and 72.0% had completed fundamental schooling. Thirty-one patients (62.0%) had been prescribed optical aids; 54.8% of these patients stated that they use them. A majority (70.6%) held a favorable opinion of these aids. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of low vision was age-related macular degeneration. Approximately half of those receiving prescriptions reported actually using the aids in their daily activities. Making best use of residual vision in the elderly population with visual impairment is a priority, given the social context, if the independence necessary for enhanced quality of life is to be achieved.


2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J Ah-Chan ◽  
Susan Downes

Age has been identified as the single most impor-tant demographic predictor of blindness and visual impairment. Visual impairment is the second most prevalent physical disability in the elderly population. The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment after 60 years of age increases significantly. Furthermore, the number of older people with functional vision impairment is expected to double in the next decade. Visual impairment in the elderly population is commonly due either to localized ocular pathology (cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration) or systemic disease with associated ocular or visual pathway involvement (hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular disease). Physicians involved in the care of older people play a crucial role in the recognition, prevention and management of morbidity related to visual impairment in this population. Timely screening, referral, intervention and visual rehabilitation is thought to be capable of reducing new blindness and visual impairment by at least one-third.


Author(s):  
Bo Philipson

During the last decade, microsurgical improvements have developed extremely rapidly in eye surgery. The use of operating microscopes has opened this field to a wide range of technical innovations such as finger suture materials, more sophisticated instruments, and new implants. The result has been better rehabilitation of patients, whose vision was impaired by opacities in the refracting media of the eye. The most frequent cause of poor vision in the elderly is cataract, which is an opacification of the lens in the eye. Most people older than 70 years will have some cataract, with about 30% having opacities that markedly reduce visual acuity and often produce glare phenomena in at least one eye (see Figure 1). There is at present no medical treatment for cataract.


BMJ ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 298 (6681) ◽  
pp. 1126-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Hitchings

BMJ ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 298 (6686) ◽  
pp. 1519-1519
Author(s):  
L. Page

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