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Cataracts
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- opacities in the lens of the eye which scatter light onto the
retina and lead to a reduction in clarity of sight
- can be present from birth or occur through trauma or the onset
of old age
- associated with other eye conditions
- full visual field but acuity varies widely
- can experience double vision when looking at bright objects
against a dark background
- glare and dazzling lights will cause difficulties
- many people need optical aids for near and distance
vision
- additional lighting can prove helpful
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Diabetic Retinopathy (as a result of
Diabetes)
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- major cause of adult blindness
- presence of floaters caused by haemorrhages and
debris
- fluctuating visual acuity
- distortion of vision
- visual field may be impaired depending on location of retinal
disease
- diabetic condition affected by stress
- sight loss creates additional problems such as poor
circulation, consequently less tactile sensation, slower
reflexes
and an increased sense of tiredness
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Glaucoma
Side effects of medication can include:
Infantile glaucoma is called Bupthalmos. It may be hereditary
and may affect one or both eyes.
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- caused by raised pressure inside the eye
- aqueous humour drains more slowly than it is
produced
- slow build up of pressure, person usually unaware of problem
until it is advanced
- central vision is retained until late in the disease
- progressive visual field loss may be prevented by
medication
- poor visual acuity
- impaired peripheral vision and night vision
- difficulty adapting from light to dark and vice
versa
- pain and discomfort
- nausea
- fatigue
- weight loss
- tingling in the extremities - making reading Braille
difficult
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- degenerative condition of the cone cells of the
retina
- loss of central vision
- difficulty in discerning fine detail/reading
- can affect colour vision, particularly reds and
greens
- macular vision is lost
reliance on 'eccentric viewing'- looking to the side of an
object
- condition usually stabiles
- high magnification needed to aid reading
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- both eyes appear to flicker
vision like a 'blurred photograph'
- exacerbated by stress, anxiety or fatigue
- some people have unusual head posture as it helps maximise
vision
- difficulty scanning and tracking
- problems with depth perception
- shifting visual points quickly and effectively
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- nerve fibres become damaged
- variable loss of vision or total blindness
- affected nerve fibres cannot be repaired
- if underlying cause of optic atrophy is effectively treated,
damage can be controlled
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Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
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- rod cells progressively destroyed
- initial symptoms include night blindness
- difficulty adapting from flight to dark conditions and vice
versa
- field of vision narrows resulting in 'tunnel vision'
- speed and severity of deterioration variable
- handheld and stand magnifiers and CCTV's can be useful
aids
- mobility instruction is often helpful
- Cataracts, Photophobia and Glaucoma sometimes
associated
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