We really did tweet the SRS budget hearing in social services budget comm. this afternoon, yet somehow the tweets disappeared. Sorry!
Low Vision Awareness Month
Posted On: February 16, 2012
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: age-related macular degeneration, blind, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, Eye Disease, eye health, Glaucoma, low vision, Visual Impairment
Last month I posted about January being Glaucoma Awareness month. Well, February is Low Vision Awareness month so I’d like to share some knowledge on this topic.
1.) Low vision is a vision loss that makes it difficult to accomplish visual tasks even with the best possible correction, but with the potential for use of available vision, with or without optical or non-optical compensatory visual strategies, devices and environmental modifications.
In other words, even with glasses, contacts, surgery, etc. the person does not have enough vision to do daily tasks. But with use of some tools/skills the person may be able to complete these tasks.
2.) People with low vision may label themselves as blind, legally blind, visually impaired, partially sighted or many other terms.
In order to be deemed legally blind by a doctor, the person’s vision when best corrected (wearing glasses, contacts, after surgery, using medication, etc.) is 20/200 or less or has a visual field of 20 degrees or less. 20/200 means that a person with 20/20 vision can see at 200 feet, that person can see at 20 feet. A visual field of 20 degrees or less can be demonstrated by putting your hand out in front of your face in a fist and only the area blocked by the fist would be visible.
People who are blind can be spilt into two groups – light perception and no light perception. Our society stereotypes that people who are blind only see darkness. This is not true; many can see light, different shades of color, shadows and or shapes.
3.) Low vision devices include everything from computer software, handheld magnifiers, video magnifiers, scanners, binoculars, monocular and many other items.
Most the time, when people think of devices that help people complete daily tasks, they think of high priced electronic equipment. That is not always the case. A rubber band can aid a person in detecting which can of food they are needing out of the cabinet. A raised bump can identify which medication the person needs to take in the morning. A piece of cardboard cut correctly can help a person with low vision fill out a check to pay bills.
Some tasks people do by using mostly their vision, people with low vision have to unlearn using their vision and rely on other senses in order to complete these tasks. One example would be to use your hearing for the beeps while on the elevator instead of watching the number move above the elevator door to know which floor you are on.
4.) The term low vision is very broad and encompasses many people with many different types of vision loss. The most common causes for low vision in the United States included age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Most of these diseases do not affect people until they are 45 years or older but that is not always true. There are forms of macular degeneration that affects children, infants can be born with cataracts or glaucoma, and if a person has been diagnosed with diabetes in their early years they can end up with diabetic retinopathy at an early age as well.
Please have your eyes checked annually especially if you are 45 years or older and make sure your eye doctor is checking your eyes for common diseases.
Happy Glaucoma Awareness Month
Posted On: January 2, 2012
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: blind, Eye Disease, eye health, Glaucoma, low vision
With January and the new year here, this is a perfect time to talk about glaucoma. January is National Glaucoma Awareness month so now is the time to book your annual eye appointment.
Glaucoma is the name of a group of diseases that commonly increases internal eye pressure, damages the optic nerve and causes peripheral (side/field) vision loss. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total blindness and there is no cure for glaucoma so even with treatment vision loss will still occur. Treatment usually involves a prescribed eye drop that lowers the internal eye pressure or that can regulate the fluid entering and exiting the eye.
There are various forms of glaucoma and most of which have no early detection signs or symptoms. Usually people notice a peripheral vision loss as the first sign and by this time there is nothing the eye doctors can do to regain that vision loss. The only way to have glaucoma diagnosed before a vision loss is to have regular eye checks with your optometrist.
Approximately 4 million people in the United States have glaucoma and only half are aware of it. The people who are more at risk include African Americans, Hispanics, diabetics, people with other eye diseases and people who are over the age of 35. (Though, there are also forms of glaucoma that can be present at birth.)
If you fall under the people who are more at risk or are noticing a peripheral vision loss, please make your New Year’s resolution to have an eye exam in 2012.
Low Vision Fair Coming Soon!
Posted On: September 16, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision, Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities
Tagged: blind, consumer opportunity, Disability, Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Visual Impairment
Do you have questions about low vision? Have you noticed you don’t see like you used to? Have you been diagnosed with low vision and want to see what’s out there to help?
Come to our low vision fair to hear Dr. David Nelson explain low vision and low vision exams, find out what assistive technology is available and learn what services are available in your own home.
The Low Vision Fair will be held on Wednesday September 21 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Resource Center for Independent Living office in Topeka. 519 SW 37th Topeka, Ks 66611.
If you have questions please contact Mandy Smith by phone at 785-528-3105.
The Low Vision Fair is brought to you by Dr. David Nelson, OD, Assistive Technology for Kansans, ikan, and RCIL.
First week of Cane class
Posted On: June 3, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: blind, Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment, white cane
As I’ve said before I am studying to become an Orientation and Mobility Specialist. This requires nine 3 hour courses through Texas Tech Univeristy (where I’m at right now) and two of those classes are white cane technique classes.
My first class started on June 1st and we didn’t touch the canes much at all except to modify them. We are using a rigid Typhlocane with a crook handle. It has a grip that can be related to a golf club grip but has one flat side on it. We cut them to the correct length by measuring it from the ground to our sternum. I then found out that you put the white reflective tape on it (it’s made out of aluminum) which is much harder than it sounds to do it without getting any wrinkles or tears! We also put on red reflective tape on the bottom which I did my in strips so I could identify my cane from the other students.
The next day we started using our canes more and learned how to go up and down stairs using it. While my instructor and partner were outside during a lesson I was sitting in a lounge area on the campus with my Mindfold on and holding my cane. I heard some students in the hallway beside me whispering something and start giggling. I smiled! I didn’t care if they were laughing at me because I know what I’m doing and I LOVE what I’m doing. In a couple of weeks I’m going to have the skills to instruct another person how to grip his/her cane to travel somewhere!
I have really enjoyed the first three days of class and I’m looking forward to the next four weeks to enhance my skills!
To be continued…
Thought you were blind?
Posted On: May 24, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: blind, Disability, stereotypes, Visual Impairment
How many times have you heard someone who is not blind say “I’m blind as a bat” or “I can’t see anything without my glasses.” We know this isn’t true, but to that person, it may feel like he or she has little vision without their correction (eye glasses, contacts).
Blindness is a functional defect of part of the eye, optic nerve (moves information from the eye to the brain), or the brain that causes the inability to see.
The terms blind and blindness have been modified in our society to include a wide range of visual impairments. Also, a person who has a visual impairment but is not by definition blind may label themselves blind.
Visual impairments can be broken down into three categories:
Blind – A person may see only darkness or the person may have some light perception
Legally Blind – The person with best correction (i.e. eye glasses, contacts) has a visual acuity* of 20/200 or less or a visual field* of 20 degrees or less in the better seeing-eye
Severe Visual Impairment – The person has a vision deficit that affects his/her life but does not fit under legally blind.
The term low vision is used often and can refer to individuals who are legally blind or have a severe visual impairment.
*Visual acuity – A measurement of the eye’s ability to distinguish object details and shape using the smallest identifiable object that can be seen at a specified distance. 20/200 can be described as what a person with 20/20 vision sees at 200 feet, the person with 20/200 would see at 20 feet.
*Visual field – The measurement in degrees of the area visible to an eye while fixating straight ahead. A person who has low vision may see better during certain parts of the day or while doing certain tasks.
It would not be uncommon to see a man (or woman) using a white cane to enter a restaurant, find his seat and then read the menu. Maybe his eye condition affects his peripheral (side) vision so it is hard for him to see obstacles such as light poles, door frames, etc. but his center/detailed vision still allows him to read. The opposite could happen as well. A lady may walk into the restaurant without a white cane, find her seat without issue, and then ask the wait staff to read her the menu.
Sometimes stereotypes play in our heads and we believe that all people with a certain characterist are just alike and that is far from true. Just remember that when you see someone with a white cane it doesn’t mean they can’t see you.
“Doggone” Cataracts
Posted On: April 13, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: dog, Eye Disease, pet
It’s been said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but can an old dog see new again?
A lady told me her service dog was going in for cataract surgery on Monday! “WOW” was about all I could say! I know that on humans, cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries, and through technology, it has a fairly quick recovery time. But on a dog?
First off, Cataracts is a disease that affects the lens in your eye. The lens is a clear object in the eye that is curved on both sides. The light goes through the lens, and the curve of the lens bends the light to hit the back of the retina, which then sends the light to the brain where we put images together. A cataract causes the lens to become opaque or cloudy which impairs or changes how the light goes through. A person (or dog) can have Cataracts in one eye or both.
The owner of the dog said her dog had several tests ran, which included one to see how well her tear ducts worked. This is done by placing test strips of paper on the eye balls (after they have been numbed). They also tested the dog to see if it was likely to get Glaucoma.
After hearing this story, I did what seemed natural…I Googled it! Cataracts in dogs can have multiple causes including heredity, diabetes, toxic reaction in the lens, trauma, age-related reasons and many more. As for humans, Cataracts are mostly age-related and are more common in women than men. Some risk factors for Cataracts include diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse, prolonged exposure to sunlight and radiation, steroid use, obesity, and poor diet. Once a lens has Cataracts there is no way to “clean” or get rid of the color.
Surgery is an option for some dogs and most people. The surgery consists of making a small incision on the eye, removing the “dirty lens” and replacing it with an artificial one. Usually dogs will have both eyes done at once, especially if they are diabetic. After the surgery, the dog will need eye drops to make sure it heals properly as well as regular check-ups with the vet and eye surgeon. Cataract surgery does not guarantee the dog (or human) will have the same vision it had before the Cataracts. Most dogs (and people) have a major improvement, but scarring does occur during the surgery and could affect the dog’s vision as well.
Only an eye doctor can say whether the dog would benefit from the surgery. In deciding whether to perform the surgery, the eye doctor considers the overall health of the dog and the pros and cons. (If you are thinking about Cataract surgery for your dog, just a warning–it is very pricey!)
Make sure you are getting not only your eyes checked every year but also your Pup’s!
That’s my job
Posted On: April 6, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: blind, low vision, Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment
I met with someone who was recently diagnosed with the eye condition, Age-Related Macular Degeneration. I asked her if it was the wet or dry type. She responded, “I don’t know.” I explained to her that with wet macular degeneration, the macula on the back wall of your eye swells up and causes your acute, detailed vision (what you use to read) to become blurry. It also allows new blood vessels to grow that are weak and leak blood into the center of the eye. Dry macular degeneration does not have the blood vessels that grow. She replied, “Well, he (her eye doctor) didn’t say.”
If a doctor comes in and says you have a certain eye disease, but doesn’t explain how it affects or will affect your vision, that can be scary. Orientation and Mobility Specialists can explain an eye condition in terms that regular people (not doctors) understand and also how it could affect your vision.
Orientation and Mobility Specialists can also help you learn what equipment is out there that could help you use what remaining vision you have. There are thousands of magnifiers and other assistive technology equipment and software out there that could help a person. But only if they know about it.
Orientation and Mobility Specialists also teach individuals with vision loss techniques that enable them to travel safely, efficently and independently.
I was told the other day that I know enough about eye diseases that I should become an eye doctor. That isn’t true. I know enough about eye diseases to turn large words I can’t pronounce into smaller words that make sense to the average person. That’s my job.
Rules of Engagement
Posted On: April 1, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: blind, disability etiquette, empowerment, equality, Visual Impairment
While walking one day you see a man standing at an intersection holding a white cane. Does he need assistance? Is he okay? How does he know where he’s going?
ASK HIM! Just walk up, tap him on the shoulder and say in your normal tone of voice “Do you need any assistance? Are you okay?” He may say “No thank you, I’m fine”. That’s okay, it’s his choice. He may ask you to let him know when the street is clear to walk. He may ask if he is aligned to go to a certain location. Or he may ask you to assist him across the street.
If he does ask you to assist him across the street do not grab him by the arm and start walking! Instead, put your arm closer to his hand so he can find it and allow him to hold on to you. He will place his hand above your elbow. Hold your arm in a natural way – don’t bend it like you are escorting him to prom! Once you are across the street he may let go and tell you thank you. Or he could ask you for more assistance such as: what block are you two on, how close are you to a certain location or would you mind guiding him to a certain location.
If the gentleman was deaf-blind (has a hearing loss and vision loss) he could have a communication card asking for assistance. This card would tell you what assistance he was wanting and how to communicate with him. Again, don’t just grab him by the arm and start walking, read the card and follow the directions. He may use written communication or he may point in the direction he needs to go. Again, place your arm near his and allow him to hold your arm.
If you are in your car and you see someone with a white cane wanting to cross the street, do not honk your horn at him/her. First off, the person will not know if the horn is attended for him/her, if it means go or if it means get out of the way.
Just remember, treat the person with the respect and dignity and you’ll both go far.
Digital Eye Strain
Posted On: January 5, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: digital eye strain, eye health
We all know that sitting at your desk staring at your computer screen all day isn’t healthy for your body. But have you thought about what it does to your eyes? Digital eye strain is eye and visual related problems after prolonged computer use. This condition doesn’t just occur because of computer use; it can actually occur with any digital device including video games and handheld devices.
The symptoms of digital eye strain include headaches, dry eyes, back and neck pain, tired and/or sore eyes, fatigue, blurred vision and sometimes double vision. If you spend two hours or more using a computer or digital device, you are likely to develop one or more of these symptoms. To avoid digital eye strain you can try the following tips:
Blink often – Blinking allows your eyes to refresh and not dry out.
Follow the 20/20/20 Rule – Every 20 minutes rest your eyes for 20 seconds and look 20 feet away. This gives your eyes a break and allows them to focus at a further distance.
Ensure Proper Lighting – This does not mean have your room/office as bright as you can get it. Instead, try dimming the lights because this will cause less glare on your computer screen.
Adjust Your Work Area – Rearranging your work area to allow better posture could eliminate the symptoms especially neck and back pain. You could also adjust your computer screen, font size and screen contrast to reduce eye strain.
Wear Your Glasses – If you have eye glasses, make sure you wear them. You need to have annual eye doctor visits and have the doctor adjust your glasses to view a computer screen. There is also digital eyeware you can use to reduce eye strain.
If you have any of these symptoms make sure to notify your eye doctor. If you are not having any problems, still make sure your doctor knows how often you use digital devices.