Losing one’s visioncan be frightening, and losing the ability to care for yourself is something none of us want to ever think about. Many of us don’t realize how much we rely on visual cues to accomplish all that we do in a single day. Vision loss—even mild vision loss—can be devastating and life-changing.
Some conditions that cause slow vision loss include:
Whether it happens to you or someone you love, all sorts of emotions may be experienced. The effects can be both physical and emotional, affecting not only the person suffering the loss but also their family and other loved ones around them. Normal, everyday tasks such as dressing in the morning or cooking a favorite meal can become quite difficult, even impossible, causing a loss of independence and severe anxiety.Caring for someone with vision loss can also be physically and emotionally draining. Learning ways to help others cope with vision loss can greatly ease the fears and emotional turmoil that it causes.
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Vision Loss and Grief
Some doctors compare the initial reaction to vision loss to the Kubler-Ross differentstages of griefafter the loss of a loved one.The person experiencing vision loss often goes through the same process. Grieving is a natural response to a significant loss. The five stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and then finally acceptance.Understanding the feelings that go along with these stages can greatly help ease fears.
Vision Loss and Isolation
One of the most important ways to help someone with vision loss is to let them know they are not alone. Over seven million Americans have vision loss including one million with blindness.
A Return to Normal
As a caregiver, assure your patient or loved one that if they are willing to make adjustments, it is possible for them to continue to enjoy their favorite hobbies and activities. The more they are willing to continue to participate in society, the easier it will be for them to continue their favorite activities. Let them know they don’t have to stop working, either. Although there are exceptions for certain jobs, many people who develop vision loss continue in their current professions. You’ve probably come into contact with people every day with low vision and didn’t realize it because they are functioning at a very high level, even with decreased vision.
Reaching Out for Help
There are also mental health professionals who specialize in vision loss or disabilities.
Solutions and tools are available to assist in cooking a favorite meal in the kitchen safely, getting around efficiently in the home, paying bills alone, and performing other tasks that are essential to everyday living. Technology has advanced to assist with these activities. Computers and appliances can be adapted to better suit someone with decreased vision.
TheLighthouse Guildoffers many resources for those dealing with vision loss.
Tips for Coping
Those with significant vision loss can be taught how to continue living a productive life. The following is a list of hints and tips for helping someone with reduced vision learn how to cope with everyday activities:
Living With Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel2)
A Word From Verywell
If a loved one hassuffered vision loss, there are some things you can do and say that will be very helpful. A family member or friend of someone who has experienced vision loss becomes an important partner in the process of vision rehabilitation. They may be experiencing great stress and anxiety when they begin to find it difficult or impossible to write, read, or drive. Here are some tips to help your loved one better cope with their vision loss:
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur G, Singh NK.Inflammation and retinal degenerative diseases.Neural Regen Res. 2023;18(3):513-518. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.350192Lundeen EA, Saydah S, Ehrlich JR, Saaddine J.Self-reported vision impairment and psychological distress in U.S. adults.Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2022;29(2):171-181. doi:10.1080/09286586.2021.1918177Boagy H, Jolly J, Ferrey A.Psychological impact of vision loss.J Ment Health Clin Psychol. 2022;10;6(3). doi:10.29245/2578-2959/2021/3.1256Avis KA, Stroebe M, Schut H.Stages of grief portrayed on the internet: a systematic analysis and critical appraisal.Front Psychol. 2021;12:772696. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772696Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence estimates for vision loss and blindness.Liu CJ, Chang MC.Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185010p1-7401185010p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038372Agarwal R, Tripathi A.Current modalities for low vision rehabilitation.Cureus. 2021;13(7):e16561. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.16561Jackson M.Adding access to a video magnifier to standard vision rehabilitation: initial results on reading performance and well-being from a prospective, randomized study.DJO. 2017;23(1):1. doi: 10.5693/djo.01.2017.02.001Smallfield S, Kaldenberg J.Occupational therapy interventions to improve reading performance of older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185030p1-7401185030p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038380
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur G, Singh NK.Inflammation and retinal degenerative diseases.Neural Regen Res. 2023;18(3):513-518. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.350192Lundeen EA, Saydah S, Ehrlich JR, Saaddine J.Self-reported vision impairment and psychological distress in U.S. adults.Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2022;29(2):171-181. doi:10.1080/09286586.2021.1918177Boagy H, Jolly J, Ferrey A.Psychological impact of vision loss.J Ment Health Clin Psychol. 2022;10;6(3). doi:10.29245/2578-2959/2021/3.1256Avis KA, Stroebe M, Schut H.Stages of grief portrayed on the internet: a systematic analysis and critical appraisal.Front Psychol. 2021;12:772696. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772696Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence estimates for vision loss and blindness.Liu CJ, Chang MC.Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185010p1-7401185010p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038372Agarwal R, Tripathi A.Current modalities for low vision rehabilitation.Cureus. 2021;13(7):e16561. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.16561Jackson M.Adding access to a video magnifier to standard vision rehabilitation: initial results on reading performance and well-being from a prospective, randomized study.DJO. 2017;23(1):1. doi: 10.5693/djo.01.2017.02.001Smallfield S, Kaldenberg J.Occupational therapy interventions to improve reading performance of older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185030p1-7401185030p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038380
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kaur G, Singh NK.Inflammation and retinal degenerative diseases.Neural Regen Res. 2023;18(3):513-518. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.350192Lundeen EA, Saydah S, Ehrlich JR, Saaddine J.Self-reported vision impairment and psychological distress in U.S. adults.Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2022;29(2):171-181. doi:10.1080/09286586.2021.1918177Boagy H, Jolly J, Ferrey A.Psychological impact of vision loss.J Ment Health Clin Psychol. 2022;10;6(3). doi:10.29245/2578-2959/2021/3.1256Avis KA, Stroebe M, Schut H.Stages of grief portrayed on the internet: a systematic analysis and critical appraisal.Front Psychol. 2021;12:772696. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772696Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence estimates for vision loss and blindness.Liu CJ, Chang MC.Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185010p1-7401185010p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038372Agarwal R, Tripathi A.Current modalities for low vision rehabilitation.Cureus. 2021;13(7):e16561. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.16561Jackson M.Adding access to a video magnifier to standard vision rehabilitation: initial results on reading performance and well-being from a prospective, randomized study.DJO. 2017;23(1):1. doi: 10.5693/djo.01.2017.02.001Smallfield S, Kaldenberg J.Occupational therapy interventions to improve reading performance of older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185030p1-7401185030p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038380
Kaur G, Singh NK.Inflammation and retinal degenerative diseases.Neural Regen Res. 2023;18(3):513-518. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.350192
Lundeen EA, Saydah S, Ehrlich JR, Saaddine J.Self-reported vision impairment and psychological distress in U.S. adults.Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2022;29(2):171-181. doi:10.1080/09286586.2021.1918177
Boagy H, Jolly J, Ferrey A.Psychological impact of vision loss.J Ment Health Clin Psychol. 2022;10;6(3). doi:10.29245/2578-2959/2021/3.1256
Avis KA, Stroebe M, Schut H.Stages of grief portrayed on the internet: a systematic analysis and critical appraisal.Front Psychol. 2021;12:772696. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772696
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence estimates for vision loss and blindness.
Liu CJ, Chang MC.Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185010p1-7401185010p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038372
Agarwal R, Tripathi A.Current modalities for low vision rehabilitation.Cureus. 2021;13(7):e16561. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.16561
Jackson M.Adding access to a video magnifier to standard vision rehabilitation: initial results on reading performance and well-being from a prospective, randomized study.DJO. 2017;23(1):1. doi: 10.5693/djo.01.2017.02.001
Smallfield S, Kaldenberg J.Occupational therapy interventions to improve reading performance of older adults with low vision: a systematic review.Am J Occup Ther. 2020;74(1):7401185030p1-7401185030p18. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.038380
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