Aging and the Senses Dr. Jan Park Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University

How important is your vision to you?

What daily activities rely on vision?

If you endured a vision loss that could not be corrected with lenses, what kind of changes in lifestyle would you need to make?

Visual Impairment: 65 Years of Age and Older  93% have some visual impairment  45% have permanent uncorrectable low vision  6% legally blind

Common Eye Changes  Decreased focusing ability  Decreased depth perception  Reduced peripheral vision  Increased sensitivity to glare  Decreased light and dark adaptation  Decreased color discrimination

Cataracts  Clouding of the lens of the eye  Vision is faint, hazy or blurred Macular Degeneration  Loss of central vision  Leading cause of vision loss Glaucoma  Loss of peripheral vision  “Tunnel” vision, when advanced Diabetic Retinopathy  Small weak-walled blood vessels develop in the eye

Behaviors that indicate vision deficit  Coordination difficulties  Tunnel vision  Visual hallucinations  Squinting  Color selection  Uncontrolled eye movement  Depth perception  Difficulty distinguishing an object from its background

Techniques for successful communication with the visually impaired Face to Face Maximize communication through printer material Maximize communication in group situations