Age Related Visual Impairment Essay

As a person ages, the constant need to accommodate when looking at nearby objects such as in reading or doing close-up work becomes more difficult (Goldstein, 2014). The main reason a person may experience the need for a brighter light when they get older is a result of a condition called presbyopia, also referred to as "old eye" (Goldstein, 2014). Old eye describes when the distance of the near point increases as a person ages. According to Goldstein (2014), "The near point for most 20-year-olds is at about 10 cm, but it increases to 14 cm by age 30, 22 cm at 40, and 100 cm at 60" (p. 25). Generally, this change occurs because the lens hardens with age and the ciliary muscles in the eye become weaker, causing great difficulty in vision when looking at objects in close range (Goldstein, 2014).

Sleep is important not only for promoting healing, but also for the overall well-being of the individual. When there are problems with the sleeping pattern, it impacts the overall health and safety of the older adult. The person will not have enough rest and will be too tired to perform activities surrounding daily living. We have to assess the risk factors contributing to the problems of sleep disturbance and these might be “related to poor sleep hygiene, including an irregular sleep schedule, environmental noise or light, and the use of stimulants” (Mauk, 2014, p. 581). If the sleeping pattern is not assessed, possible complications will happen, such as falls that could lead to bodily injuries.

     9)      The brain centers that trigger waking and sleeping schedules may be damaged by Alzheimer's.

Commonly known as Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) and other names, is a disorder in which the persons internal body clock is not in sync with the morning-rise evening-sleep pattern of the majority of people. Individuals with this disorder are not able to sleep and wake at the times that are regulated by normal work and school hours. They usually get enough sleep to keep them at a functional level through the day but not enough to be considered “well rested”. Polysomnography and actigraphy are tests commonly ordered for some sleep disorders to determine the illness. The cause of Delayed Sleep Phase can include a variety of reasons; puberty being one of the main causes, but some people are born with the disorder. The short term and long term effects of this illness is unfortunate for a person’s overall health. Overall cures to this disorder have not been found yet. Doctors have suggested sleeping pills to help or other alternatives. The disorder affects the timing of sleep, peak period of alertness, the core body temperature rhythm, hormonal and other daily cycles.

The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend a series of changes in current routine vision service policies of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The U.S. population is aging at a rapid speed, it is projected that by 2030 the population of adults over the age of 65 will be 72 million (Hooyman, N. R., & Kiyak, H. A., 2011, p. 15). Even more appalling is that adults over the age of 65 have a higher than normal risk to develop eye conditions, one in three of these adults have some form of vision-reducing eye disease such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration (Quillen, 1999, p. 99). In spite of this increase and possibility, vision healthcare restrictions persist. Currently, there is no service plan that is comprehensive and inclusive to everyone, despite health status. The lack of coverage holds many people back from acknowledging symptoms and seeking services. I propose that (CMS’) and (ACA) provide a 20/20 commitment by covering two annual routine eye examinations for all recipients to address preventative health care. In addition, prescribing eyeglasses, eye disease testing and two pairs of eyeglasses are to be covered per visit.

Macular Degeneration is a disease of the eye that gradually causes loss of a person’s central vision. Approximately 1.75 million Americans suffer from vision loss associated with the disease (All About Vision 1). The leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60, Macular Degeneration, exists in two types (National Eye Institute 1). Both the wet and dry versions of the disease have similarities in risk factors, but differ in symptoms and treatments.

My inspiration for wanting to become an optometrist was jump-started by my aunt Rosemary. My aunt suffers from dry macular degeneration, and she first started losing her eyesight when I was about five years old. I have always been close to her, and I have seen her vision deteriorate. Today she can see peripherally. I have watched as she lost her driving privileges and was forced into an early retirement. I always viewed my aunt's condition without an appreciation of how lucky I truly was to have normal vision. However, In the summer of 2002 I visited an optometrist for the first time. Since that first visit to the optometrist 13 years ago, my eyesight has drastically deteriorated. I currently have a correction factor of -7.25 in my right eye, and a correction factor of -8.0 in my left eye. My vision has stabilized, but my high correction power, coupled with observing my aunt's macular degeneration, allowed me to understand that the gift of vision may not be an everlasting gift. I want to do my best to help people make the best of what may not be an enduring attribute of their lives.

List at least three resources you should use to determine the visual and academic ability of a student with a visual impairment.

As humans, we don't always see with our eyes, but often with our imagination (Grunwald, 2016). Often times as people we never realize how useful our vision really is to us. You really don't think about something like that until it would actual happen to you. Throughout this essay, you will learn how the body is affected by Macular Degeneration (MD). Different signs and symptoms, as well as the etiology of MD, will be discussed. In the following, diagnosis tests and treatments may also be listed in order to help others who would like to know more about MD. Not to mention, you will learn the incidence and progression of MD. Furthermore, information though agencies and associations, as well as new research about MD will be given.

Circadian rhythm is another sleep disorder that has to do with our body functions. In this case, our body clocks are off, due an internal change or external factors like a change in time zones or regions where a midnight sun occurs during a 24-hour period. Bright lights in a room have a similar effect on sleep.

In the year 2009, there were 39.6 million adults who were 65 years or older. Baby Boomers made up about 12.9% of the population or roughly 1 in every 8 humans. By the year 2030, this number is expected to almost double making 72.9 million adults who are aged 65 years or older making up for an astounding 19% of the world's population. All in all, 5% of the world’s population are in nursing homes. Lighting should be a primary concern to those living in, working in, and designing Nursing Homes.

According to the American Optometric Association, when "you reach your 60s and beyond, you need to be aware of the warning signs of age-related eye health problems that could cause vision loss. Many eye diseases have no early symptoms. They may develop painlessly, and you may not notice the changes to your vision until the condition is quite advanced."

DM has experienced Presbyopia, which is an initial universal age-related vision alteration, that begins in early adulthood and continues at various rates through older adulthood (Miller, 2015). DM also has experienced sleeping problems, diverticulitis from constipation, and has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. These are all age-related changes that she now lives with and takes fiber supplements and sleeping medications to control these various changes. DM also cannot go anywhere without her reading glasses which she uses daily.

Advancing age is a common hindrance to the proper functioning of the body senses. The eyes will have difficulty focusing on near and distant objects. Adapting to different levels of light is the other common problem. Cataracts, also called clouding of vision is another common condition that results from changes in eye’s lens. Hearing abilities also diminish. With this, you will have difficulties following a conversation or hearing high frequencies.

As the life expectancy in the United States rises, the number of elderly in the population has also expanded. These increases have led to the oldest-old (people aged 90 and older) to become the fastest growing age group in the country. The oldest-old face many unique challenges because of their age, one of which is disability. Disability in the elderly has major impact upon society 1 and will continue will be a growing burden in years to come.