Blindness Or Low Vision, Cancer, And Alzheimer 's Disease

The elderly population is growing with 35 million people who are age 65 years or older and half are between the ages of 65 to 74 and the other half are over the age of 75. The population age 85 years or older are the fastest growing population (Dubow, 2017). In 1991 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that 8 out of 10 people over the age of 60 had one or more chronic diseases or impairments which included arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairment, heart disease, cataracts, deformity or orthopedic impairment, chronic sinusitis,

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.

Visual impairment is a state wherein an individual experiences difficulty in seeing or not being able to see anything physical presented to them. According to Mandal, MD (2013) It is a state where a visually impaired person’s eyesight cannot be corrected back to a “normal level”. Visual impairment is often associated with old age. In Europe, an estimated 15.5 million people have visual impairment and in seven countries in Europe, about 50% of blindness is caused by age-related macular degeneration. (Dibb,

For the health condition description of age-related macular degeneration I will discuss the etiology, onset, prevalence rate, body systems, body structures, and associated deficits that come and are associated with this disease. “AMD is the degradation of the cells at the center of the retina which is the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that registers light. The macula is responsible for ventral vision, which enables us to read, drive, participate in sports, and do anything else that requires focusing directly ahead. Macular degeneration distorts the heart of the vision field” (Macular degeneration, 1998). Sunlight and smoking are both influences of the onset of AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), 2014). It is suggested to avoid intense bright sunlight which may help reduce the retinal degeneration. Hats, sunglasses and any other accessories that can help protect the eyes from the sun are suggested. Cigarette smoking has also been linked to increasing the risk of developing AMD and it is recommended that persons should stop smoking to decrease their chance of developing AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), 2014). AMD does not develop until the sixth or seventh decade of life, although early

First described by German physician, Alois Alzheimer, in the early 1900s, Alzheimer’s disease is now the fourth most prevalent cause of death- after heart disease, cancer, and stroke (AD- a guide for families). Most common in adults 65 or older, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is regarded as “a loss of intellectual abilities sufficient enough to interfere with everyday social and occupational functioning” (AD- a guide for families). Victims of AD are unable to think abstractly, find similarities and differences between related words, and have trouble defining words and concepts. Other common symptoms include disturbances in language, or aphasia, an inability to carry out motor activities, or apraxia, and a failure to recozinge or identify

Alzheimer’s disease is named after German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes that happened in the brain tissue of Auguste D., who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. So, what exactly is Alzheimer’s? It is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer’s has been detected in nearly 15% of people 71 years of age or older because it is caused by a genetic mutation, the disease gets worse over time, and there is currently no cure for it.

Cataracts: As people age, proteins can gradually build up on the lens, causing a brownish or yellowish tint to the lens, blocking effective light transfer to the retina. Other things can cause the lens to lose it's clarity, include past eye surgery, injury or damage to the eye and chronic illnesses like diabetes. While more than 50% of Americans will either be living with a cataract or will have had surgery by the time they reach 80 years of age, even adults in their forties and fifties develop cataracts, and some babies are born with cataracts. Symptoms – cloudy vision, trouble driving at night, struggling to find a vision prescription that works well – gradually worsen over time. Surgery is currently the only therapeutic option.

These include the reduction of distances, increasing text size, and magnifying objects. There are many aids available to help individuals with reduced vision, one of them being the Merlin which is a desktop magnifier that uses colour, black and white, and a voice activation feature. It is important for nurses to be aware of all interventions so that they are knowledgeable in the ones that may help their client the most. A nurse would be most responsible for the environmental interventions as well as the healthy lifestyle choices their clients can implement as they are the most nursing related, and not medical related. The future trend for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration looks to be improving as studies are being conducted on gene therapy, human retinal transplantation, artificial vision, retinal prosthesis and neuroprotection. “Macular degeneration continues to present a challenge to individuals who are striving for independence in functioning, as well as to professionals looking for intervention strategies that might prevent or alter the nature of the condition.” (Feret, Steinweg, Griffin, & Glover,

Changes in bodily structures and functions in sensory, emotional and mental aspects are part of normal ageing process. Changes in cognitive competence occur due to conditions such as depression, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Healthcare professionals should have a good understanding of the degenerative changes in ageing, to be able to differentiate normality and abnormality in older adults. (Schapkin; Freude; Gajewski; Wild-Wall; & Falkenstein; 2012.) Changes in vision occur because of the lens and

The good news is that there are several things you and your loved one can do to promote vision health.

Alzheimer’s disease is the biggest cause of senile dementia in Europe and the United States affecting nearly 36 million people worldwide (Prince, Albanese, Guerchet & Prina, 2014). It is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, severely affecting the temporal and frontal lobes, and in particular the limbic structures contained within these regions (Hooper & Vogel, 1976). Such structures include the hippocampus (contributing particularly to spatial memory (Schmajuk, 1984) and the amygdalae, both of which are primarily affected (Chan et al, 2001). As such, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by a progressive cognitive impairment, usually beginning with memory loss and progressing further to involve multiple cognitive and

Blindness. In 2008, approximately 4.2 million individuals with diabetes were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and were at risk for blindness (CDC, 2014). Diabetes continues to be the leading cause of vision loss among adults aged 20 to 74 years (CDC, 2011). High glucose levels and high blood pressure damages the tiny vessels in the eyes, specifically the retina (ADA, n.d.). These tiny arteries become blocked, causing them to swell and sometimes rupture, contributing to loss of sight (ADA, n.d.).

Macular Degeneration is the most common irreversible central vision loss problem in people over 60 in the United States.

Michelle Markowitz has been reported in his study Occupational therapy interventions in low vision rehabilitation a lot of rehabilitation interventions and according to his study he showed four examples of daily life areas .

More than 3 million people have glaucoma in the U.S. (and 60 million people worldwide), and unfortunately that number is projected to increase over the next decades. In the U.S., about 120,000 people are blind from glaucoma, which accounts for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness.