Vision Loss Project
The Worst Vision Issue
There are multiple eyesight conditions among elderly persons. Genworth (2019), identifies cataracts, Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and floaters as the significant eyesight conditions. These conditions have various causes and manifestations. Cataract results from exposure to radiation and bright light. The conditions feature the clouding of the lens and are preventable by wearing ultraviolet blocking sunglasses. Another condition is Glaucoma, which results from the internal pressure increasing within the eye. Glaucoma may lead to permanent vision loss; therefore, early detection of warning signs like losing peripheral vision, which leads to the development of the tunnel vision effect, is essential. Similar to Glaucoma, macular degeneration can lead to permanent vision loss. Because of general muscular degeneration among the elderly, the eye surfaces featuring imaging decreases its effectiveness and gradually, makes an elderly individual observe distorted images. On the contrary, floaters involve the clumping of microscopic eye fibers, thereby casting shadows on the retina. This makes an older person see specs when moving their eyes. Therefore, on considering cataracts, Glaucoma, muscular degeneration, and floaters, the most challenging condition among the elderly is the muscular degeneration.
Changing of Daily Routines
According to Genworth (2019), muscular degeneration deteriorates the visual capability beginning from the center and gradually progressing overtime. ‘Vision loss stimulator’ (n.d) further illustrates using slides the visual impact as a result of muscular degeneration, which features the total blackout of vision on the central view. With this, the elderly might find it challenging to do their daily routines. It is worth noting that the daily routines are significant to the adults, for they can plan their routine activities, making them feel secure and stable. This improves their mental health by reducing stress and anxiety through the enhancement of the quality of rest, which is fundamental to performance, energy, and emotional health. Because muscular degeneration affects central vision, some of the standard daily routines that require focus and concentration, including preparing breakfast, exercising, and reading newspapers, may become difficult, for it demands much visual attention. Also, muscular degeneration features an increasing likelihood of falling, injury, and reduced ability to recognize faces. Therefore, the elderly cannot take a walk without help, do certain house chores like cleaning, act on social functions such as board games, attend entertainment joints, and enjoy some of their hobbies. As a result, they shift their behavioral activities from active participation to passive. They are thereby experiencing depression, poor emotional health, and dependency on other individuals.
Behavior adjustment
Furthermore, individuals are capable of living with the muscular degeneration condition by adjusting their healthy behaviors. Changing behavior as a muscular degeneration patient requires consideration of various aspects. Primarily, on discovering early signs of this condition, an individual should avoid panic and give up. Instead, an individual’s focus should be on living healthily with the disease. Therefore, there should be an urge to knowing much about muscular degeneration and consultation of a specialist on behavior applicable to living with this condition. Eating behavior among these patients is distinct compared to ordinary people. Adjustment of eating habits incorporates vegetables and fruits, fish, multivitamins, avoiding fats, and prescribed the use of supplements. Despite eating habits, their homes should have several adjustments to improve vision and prevent the progression of the condition. Such improvement includes the lighting and use of larger monitors. Besides, the elderly should use curtains to assist in avoiding glare, improve vision on stairs and floors by improving contrast, and most importantly, there should be the use of low vision accessories and regular checkups. Therefore, on living with the muscular degeneration, and individuals should adjust their eating habits, house décor properties, and use low vision devices.
The Difficulty of Having Muscular Degeneration Condition
Having muscular degeneration conditions has proven to be complicated. Generally, vision impairment conditions hinder the reasonable livelihood of an individual ranging from young to the elderly. According to Genworth, common diseases include cataracts, Glaucoma, muscular degeneration, and floaters. ‘Vision loss stimulator’ (n.d), conceptualizes how these conditions influence the visual properties of individuals, from Glaucoma, which has the tunnel effect on vision, cataract with the fading of bright colors below ordinary, and muscular degeneration with the gradual loss of sight. As a result, these conditions hinder the routine activities of individuals by hindering movement due to the increasing likelihood of falling and injury. Individuals also cannot read, prepare breakfast, and exercise. This forces them to adjust to a particular habit to live with this condition, such as improving eating habits and their home environment. The eating habits suggested include increased consumption of vegetables and fruits. Their homes should have controlled lighting with the help of blinds and curtains. Also, there should be an improved vision of the stairs, the use of low vision accessories, and regular medical checkups. Thus, living with this condition has proven to be complicated.
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