Causes of Visual Impairment

The cataracts within the eye often changes in the lens of the eye. As people grow older the lens in the eye starts to change and can start to appear cloudy looking, this often happens and stops the process of the eye lens from being able to change shape or even to transmit the light properly. The cataracts may start to form between the ages of 50 and 60 years old and can often take a while to develop. If you are known to have diabetes then that also contributes to poor cataracts.

A medical definition of vision impairment is a sine qua non that prohibits 20/20 vision in one or both eyes (Bowman, Bowman, Dutton & Royal National Institute for the Blind, 2001; Vision Australia, 2015; Webster & Roe, 1998). Examples of vision impairment include, cataracts, which has the lens inside the eye increasingly cloudy; albinism, which is passed down genetically affecting clear vision and causes sensitivity to bright light; optic nerve damage, which affects field of vision as those nerves controlling vision are disrupted; macular degeneration, where parts of the retina that control colour and fine details are affected; retinitis pigmentosa, which is an ongoing reduction of the field of vision available and nystagmus, where the eye flickers involuntary (Bowman, Bowman, Dutton & Royal National Institute for the Blind, 2001; American Foundation for the Blind, 2015; Vision Australia, 2015 ; Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank, 2015). John suffers from retinitis

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.

The research topic I will be introducing is Age-Related Macular Degeneration. This has been classified as a degenerative disorder that distresses the macula in one’s eye. AMD is unfortunately a common illness that individuals over 65 suffer from and that is a central cause vision loss. AMD doesn’t have a set disease pathway, in some individuals it advances slowly so that loss of vision does not arise for a long time. The disease can also advance much quicker and may lead to lack of vision in either or both eyes. The disease begins a blurry area near the center of one’s vision which grows larger and larger possibly causing a blank space in the eye (Boyd, 2013). Research is being done on AMD because it is a prevalent illness and has extreme consequences.

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,

As mentioned previously, glaucoma will usually occur due to the pressure rising within the eye. This can happen due to the fluid within the eye not circulating properly in the front of the eye. This fluid, known as the aqueous humor, will flow out from the eye through a mesh like channel. If the mesh like channel becomes blocked however, the fluid will build up and this will lead to glaucoma. The direct cause of this particular blockage isn’t yet known, although some doctors do believe that inheritance plays a big role. Other less common causes of this condition include blunt or chemical injuries to the eye along with inflammatory conditions. Glaucoma will usually occur in both eyes however it’s not unheard of to involve just one eye or even both but to differing extents. There are also a few factors that could put you at a heightened risk, making you more susceptible and these include:

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

The macular edema, which is causing rapid visualization loss, may not have any cautioning signs for some time. In general, a person with macular edema is likely to have unclear revelation, making it hard to do things like drive or read. The vision will get better or worse during the day in some cases.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead.

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.

American Glaucoma Society states the definition of Glaucoma, “Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that can result in vision loss and blindness” (Jampel). Glaucoma being a disease that could cause eye loss it is a disease that cannot be taken lightly and people want to find a treatment to help their case as soon as possible. With medical

The first disease I’m going to mention is Glaucoma, according to Web MD last updated in 2015, Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time. It's often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.

     Macular Degeneration is a problem in the part of the eye that controls your sharpest central vision. It is a group of diseases that result in a loss of detailed vision. The brain will not just leave the spot empty, so it learns to fill it in with spotty macular cell damage. People most of the time don't tell their doctors (opthalmologists) about it until it is well in advance.

Vision challenge or impairment is when a person’s degree of seeing is very low and the affected person requires assistance in order to carry out daily routine. Significantly, for one to qualify as visually impaired there must be prove that a person cannot undertake duties by himself without necessary assistance. For a person to qualify as a visually challenged, there must be a prove that the affected eyes cannot be conventionally treated. Visual challenge cannot be corrected by surgery, refractive measures neither by medication and that is why it is termed as visual impairment. The most rampart causes of visual challenge are trauma, degenerative or congenital means and a variety of diseases. In the society,

“Pay close attention to each student’s individual needs; provide a curriculum similar to that for sighted students; and expect students to integrate into their communities.” (Hall, 2012). There are many different categories of visual impairments that individuals can fall under. People can have low vision, visual acuity, or total blindness along with others. Visual impairment comes in two ways. Friend (2018) claims “Congenital visual impairment refers to a condition that is present at or near the time of birth. An adventitious visual impairment is a condition that is acquired at birth, either in childhood or at some later point in life.” (P. 359). According to Friend (2018), “Visual impairments result when problems exist in the structure or functioning of the eye, when the eye is damaged through illness of injury, or when a neurological problem prevents communication between the brain and the eye.” (P. 360). Friend (2018) found “Retrolental fibroplasia (RFL) is the condition where too much oxygen is placed in the premature incubator where babies are given uncontrolled amounts of oxygen to assist their breathing.” (P. 357). Stevie Wonder became blind through this particular situation. Visual impairment has been around for centuries, but just as the world advances so does the knowledge of visual impairment.